Summer months usually represent a break from school activities in academia. Universities are, during the school year, animated by students, although at present they live in contrasting quietness. Among the non-teaching staff, an essential, if less visible part of the academic community, there are those who take the time to work and put projects on time, when they are allowed to do so, thanks to much less student requests.

But of course, it is students who give a unique life to a university campus. Their youth (that period of life in which much is defined), irreverence, the constant renewal, makes it a special place to work.

The first articles in this edition are about new cycles in FMUL’s leading structures, which are characterized by maintenance.
Professor Bugalho de Almeida, in his “Last Lesson”, presented the paper “Pneumology University Clinic. Eight Decades of Education, Research and Assistance”, which truly represents a journey through Portuguese medicine’s 20th century. FMUL will certainly continue to benefit from his much learned pedagogical, scientific and clinical contribution.

The News Report / Profile, in this edition, is dedicated to FMUL’s Center for Bioethics, which is quite important in scientific and teaching activities in our Faculty, especially with regard to postgraduate training. It is not strange to this fact the importance of such themes in contemporary society and how bioethics is present in various issues and problems involving us all and continually demanding reflection and discussion, both at the individual and global level. This item includes an interview with Professor Antonio Barbosa, Director of the Centre.

We believe that each edition of the Newsletter is an opportunity to look at much of what we do best at FMUL and UL, as is one more demonstrated by the many interesting proposals. If you think there is something missing, maybe it is time for you to send your suggestions.

We wish you all a good holiday season.

August 2012

Editorial Team
news@fm.ul.pt