[The history of the nursing interunits doctoral program and its contribution to Brazilian nursing].

Authors aimed at describing the history of the Nursing Interunits Doctoral Program offered at the São Paulo and Ribeirão Preto campi from 1981 to 2004. Data were collected based on the Program documents (resolutions, opinion, students' records, reports, etc). The Nursing Interunits Doctoral Program was approved by the University of São Paulo Graduate Council in May 25, 1981. During the past several years, until the beginning of the 1990s, the demand was centered in the students from the Schools responsible for the Program, followed by faculty from other Nursing Schools in Brazil. The Program has resulted in the formation of researchers from different Brazilian and South American Universities, leading the creation of research groups and originating new graduate programs.