The Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) regretfully informs the death of Prof. Dr. João Valente Barbas Filho, from the Discipline of Pulmonology, Department of Cardiopneumology, on December 13, 2022.

Prof. Dr. João Valente Barbas Filho, born on October 25, 1927, in the city of São Paulo, was the first and one of the most important pulmonologists at FMUSP.

Graduated in 1951, he was part of the second Medical Clinic, headed by Prof. Louis Decourt. In 1954, he accompanied the organization of clinical specialties - when Pneumology was created, and started to care for patients with respiratory problems as head of the ward.

Since then, he directed the Pulmonology until his retirement. In over forty years, he developed the areas of ​​assessment of lung function and of ​pleural effusions with the introduction of biopsies.

He also made important integrations with other specialties, such as radiology and pathology. Collaboratively with other professors, he developed the correlation between morphology and lung function, bringing physiology to the center of discussions in the area.

In addition, he participated in the training of hundreds of physicians in the Pulmonology specialty, acting in the graduation program as a student advisor, and in the training of internal medicine residents and specialists. He was responsible for the post-graduation course in Pulmonology, also acting in the training of doctors.

He contributed to the training of many specialists who still remain at the Hospital das Clínicas and at other universities in the state of São Paulo and in Brazil - as well as professionals who came from abroad to do their specialization at USP.

After completing his doctorate in 1960, he completed his associate professorship in the late 1970s and became an associate professor in 1980, retiring from that position in 1995. Even after his retirement, he did not move away from academic activities, producing important scientific research in the area. of pulmonary fibrosis, one of his articles (Evidence of type II pneumocyte apoptosis in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IFP)/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), 2001) being one of the most cited in the specialized literature.

In addition to being a professor, advisor and trainer of leaders in respiratory medicine, Prof. Valente will also be remembered for his direct role in the ambulatory care for Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) patients, and his weekly visits to hospitalized patients –demonstrating his qualification in more complex diagnoses and his willingness to guide new residents and pulmonologists.

His legacy also lives on in the work of his daughter, Dr. Carmen Valente, currently an assistant in Pneumology at Hospital das Clínicas, with extensive academic participation in the areas of respiratory ICU and pulmonary vasculitis.

His dedication and teachings will certainly be carried by his students and passed on to new generations.