With about 850 registered and almost one thousand persons circulating on site, the 33rd Brazilian Congress of Pathology and 26th Brazilian Congress of Cytopathology was different for each person and is the sum of the experience of each one. The event made history and is already missed. Postponed from 2021 to 2022 due to the pandemic, the congress was characterized by an atmosphere of happiness and fraternization, reuniting those waiting a long time to see colleagues and attend in person an event that is already symbolized by scientific excellence.

People seemed to be nostalgic of a major face-to-face event such as the Congress, which does not end with the conclusion of lectures, like those online. The discussions continue even after presentations. Many contacts were made. For some young people, it was the first chance to be in an event in person, what resulted in even more learning and opportunities to expand the network of contacts with specialists of several parts in the world. 

In this edition, the Brazilian Society of Pathology (SBP in Portuguese) brought 47 international speakers to Foz do Iguaçu, a record rarely seen in congresses of other medical specializations, and counted with world pathology references such as Dr. George Netto, responsible for teaching the first Major Conference. “We had the opportunity to see major presentations that only reinforce my belief: we have a bright future for pathology”, he said, who is professor of Alabama University in Birmingham (UAB), United States. “It was a pleasure to teach a major in one of my favorite events. I had the opportunity to speak directly to young people of incredible talent that Brazil has, presenting how new technologies linked to digital pathology may revolutionize our profession and open many doors, so we may develop an even better work for our patients”, said Netto.

 The chairman of International Academy of Pathology (IAP), Dr. Robert Osamura, in addition to attaining the opening ceremony, gave a speech at the congress in Foz do Iguaçu, in South of Brazil. He considered the event “very successful”.  Professor at Health and Wellbeing University in Tokyo, in Japan, he said that was honored in participating and happy to meet old and new friends in Latin America.  

 With the chairman of the Latin American Society of Pathology (SLAP in Portuguese) and Argentine Society of Pathology (SAP in Portuguese), Dr. Laura Jufe, we had the opportunity of not only deepening even more in Uropathology and pseudo-tumor lesions, but also to reflect about the reality of pathology in Latin America and inequality in the world and in Brazil.

 “It was a luxury and privilege to share with the Latin-American colleagues these activities, which allowed us to see that our conflicts, and all our economic, social and cultural situation are very similar”, she stated. “We had the pleasure of listening to professionals from Europe and United States about precision medicine techniques that are actually a dream that we intend to achieve. We will have to work together for the pathologic anatomy of Latin America to reach this same level in order to provide the same quality to our patients.”  

With an interesting program even for top professionals such as Dr. George Netto, the event also paid attention to the Pathology teaching for medicine students and in residence. Dr. Geraldo Brasileiro Filho, founder of Pathology Teaching Forum (FEP), was one of the area coordinators. “We had an excellent opportunity for the teaching and learning activities of Pathology. We were able to show to our teacher colleagues and students what the Pathology Teaching Forum is doing in the past years. We addressed teaching and learning in medical residence and some very important lectures were presented in this context”, he reported, who is professor of Pathology at Minas Gerais Federal University (UFMG). “It was possible to discuss with a good part of the community subjects and topics of major interest that certainly will contribute for improving our teaching and learning work.”

The coordinator of activities, Dr. Juliana Arôxa, stated that she was very surprised and happy to see that undergraduate students developed several activities during the pandemic. For Isadora Pêsso, resident doctor of 2nd year in Pathology at Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo, the congress “went far beyond a professional experience” and thanked a lot. “I was able to update, consolidate essential basis that my residence provides me, and make discoveries of things unknown to me (since we always have much to learn) and of what is new and updated. In addition to getting to know exceptional people, from residents from several other places in Brazil to reference pathologists and speakers of Brazil and of the world!”