In October of this year, the Santa Casa Hospital Pavilhão Pereira Filho Center for the Treatment of Pulmonary Diseases, located in the city of Porto Alegre (in the state of Rio Grande do Sul), celebrated 40 years in operation. Commemorating 40 years seems, above all, a chance to rejoice at the end of a long trail and a moment to reflect upon the great experience acquired, as well as upon various errors and successes.
With all these years of work behind us, it is easy to understand that much has been accomplished and much has yet to be done.

To list all of the accomplishments made at the Pavilhão Pereira Filho in these 40 years might appear tedious. However, it is exactly these accomplishments that have distinguished generations of both gaúcho* and non-gaúcho pulmonologists. Those same successes have led many of those who have passed through there to nourish the desire to never leave again, maybe even to die there... perhaps even be resurrected there.

Aspects that make this place unique include the manner in which diseases/patients are viewed and diagnostic challenges are approached, insistence on the use of grammatically correct terminology, transcutaneous puncture and chest X-rays providing an overpenetrated view of the mediastinum, as well as the means of dealing with pain and chronic cough. The contrast between the traditional and the daring makes one believe, at times, that it might be possible to "transplant" hearts and minds themselves in order to construct the ideal setting. However, over the course of 40 years, one perceives that many exchanges would be merely pretentious, and that the best solution is to work harder.

Much work has been done and many advances made in these 40 years. Nevertheless, we shall not look nostalgically to the past. Let us rather seek, from the past, the experience and the maturity to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.

With your permission, dear Editor, I would like to congratulate those known and recognized by us all: Dr. Nelson Porto, Dr. Bruno Palombini, Dr. José Moreira, Dr. Luis Carlos Correa da Silva, Dr. Jorge Hetzel, Dr. José Camargo, Dr. José Carlos Felicetti and Dr. Arthur Burlamaque. I also ask your leave to acknowledge the day-to-day efforts undertaken by the physiotherapists and colleagues Dr. Adalberto Rubin, Dr. Carlos Villanova, Dr. Paulo Cardoso, Dr. Eduardo Garcia, Dr. Beatriz Moraes, Dr. Deise Alt, Dr. Ana Luiza Moreira, Dr. Luciano Correa da Silva, Dr. Marcio Hetzel, Dr. Spencer Camargo, Dr. Cristiano Feijó, Dr. Paulo Goldenfun, Dr. Marcelo Rocha, Dr. Paula Berto, Dr. Daniela Bonamigo and Dr. Jackson Volkart. Congratulations to all of us who have made the Pavilhão Pereira Filho what it is today and who have made it possible to glimpse the commemorations of 50 years, 60 years, 70 years and beyond.

*The term gaúcho ("gaucho") refers to anyone living in the extreme south of Brazil, specifically in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

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1. Pulmonologist at the Pavilhão Pereira Filho. President-elect of the Sociedade de Pneumologia e Tisiologia do Rio Grande do Sul (SPTRS, Rio Grande do Sul Society of Pulmonology and Phthisiology) for the 2006-2007 biennial.