Between Science and Humanity: The Journey of Paulo Évora

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Albert Pike

On March 16, 2025, we bid farewell to Professor Paulo Roberto Barbosa Évora - known to many simply as Ludô. None of us were prepared for such a loss. Yet, his life trajectory offers comfort: he dedicated each of his days not only to himself, but also to his family, his students, his colleagues, and to the advancement of Brazilian and global science. In every memory, in every lesson he imparted, his presence remains immortal.

Born on September 18, 1947, in Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil), Paulo Évora was the son of Newton Madeira Évora and Ercília Barbosa Évora. He inherited from his parents the values of compassion, generosity, and empathy that would shape his entire life. During his childhood in Campo Grande, he formed a lifelong friendship with another future luminary of cardiac surgery, Mariano Brasil Terrazas.

After completing his primary education, he moved to São Paulo to attend preparatory courses for the university entrance exams. He was accepted into the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto at the Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), joining its 16^th class (Figure 1) - one that would become renowned for producing many future professors of the institution. It was during this time that he earned the affectionate nickname "Ludô", a reference to Professor Ludovico from comic books, known for his inventiveness - a nickname that aptly captured Paulo Évora’s creative and innovative spirit. It was also during these years that he cultivated friendships and accumulated stories filled with humor and fond memories.

Fig. 1
First-year students at the Escola de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (1967). Dr. Paulo Évora (highlighted), first from left to right.

During his undergraduate studies, cardiac surgery definitively crossed his path. Fascinated after observing a surgical correction of atrial septal defect, he abandoned his initial intention of pursuing neurology. A subsequent internship at Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa sealed his destiny: there, he personally met his idol, Professor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini - his model of humility - with whom he cultivated a lifelong friendship. When recalling those times, Paulo Évora often reflected that perhaps the absence of true idols could influence the future of cardiac surgery.

After graduation, Paulo Évora completed his residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto, under the mentorship of Professors Albert Amin Sader and João José Carneiro. Early in his career, he demonstrated a special interest in critically ill patients and in applied physiology - quickly becoming a reference in the management of critical care within the institution, where he also developed pioneering mechanical ventilation protocols, including adaptations for neonatology, well before such practices became widespread.

In 1980, he defended his doctoral thesis titled “Intraoperative Measurement of the Mitral Valve Effective Orifice Area in Patients with Mitral Stenosis: Correlation with Clinical, Hemodynamic, Plethysmographic, Cardiopulmonary Exercise, and Spirometric Parameters”, under Professor Sader’s supervision[¹]. He continued his professional career as a cardiovascular surgeon in the Ribeirão Preto region and as an intensivist at the Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto.

Between 1990 and 1992, he experienced a transformative period during a postdoctoral fellowship at the Endothelium Research Laboratory of the Mayo Clinic (Figure 2A), under the supervision of Dr. Hartzell Vernon Schaff (Figure 2B). It was there that he solidified his lifelong interest in endothelial dysfunction and vasoplegic shock. Upon returning to Brazil, he published his first article on the use of methylene blue in vasoplegic shock - a topic that would garner international recognition[²].

Fig. 2
A) Dr. Paulo Évora and a colleague, Beatriz Gabas, in the operating room at the Mayo Clinic during his fellowship. B) Dr. Paulo Évora and his mentor, Dr. Hartzell V. Schaff, during the 44th Congress of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular in Rio de Janeiro, 2017.

His academic career was equally distinguished. In 1993, he achieved the title of Free-lecturer with his thesis "Aspects of Endothelial Function in Cardiac Surgery". In 1999, he contributed to the founding of the medical school at the Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). In 2003, he was appointed Full Professor of Cardiac Surgery at FMRP-USP, where he established a cutting-edge endothelial research laboratory and served as Head of the Department of Surgery and Anatomy for two consecutive terms.

Always an innovator, he implemented projects such as the construction of a new experimental surgery facility, introduced clinical case discussions modeled after those at the Mayo Clinic, encouraged international internships for young faculty members, and contributed to the creation of the FMRP's Physical Therapy program.

Throughout his career, Paulo Évora remained deeply committed to educating future generations. In his view, “every surgeon should also be a scientist”. His laboratory became a thriving environment for dozens of undergraduate, master, doctoral, and postdoctoral researchers. Over his career, he supervised 12 undergraduate research projects, 15 master theses, 16 doctoral dissertations, and four postdoctoral fellows.

With over 400 published articles, 52 book chapters, and nearly 200 conference presentations, he established himself as one of Brazil’s most influential cardiovascular surgery researchers, achieving an h-index of 37. His magnum opus, "Vasoplegic Endothelial Dysfunction" (Springer, 2021), remains a cornerstone reference in the field[³].

His spirit of innovation and passion for education also led him to assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of the Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (BJCVS) following the passing of Professor Domingo Braile. During his tenure, the journal underwent a profound editorial renewal, embraced new technologies, promoted the participation of young researchers, and reinforced its commitment to accessible, high-quality scientific dissemination. Recognition for the excellence of his work and his contributions to the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular (SBCCV) came in 2018, when he was awarded the "Personality of the Year" prize during the 46^th SBCCV Congress in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais[⁴] (Figure 3).

Fig. 3
Professor Paulo Roberto Barbosa Évora in 2018, at the 46^th Congress of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular (SBCCV) in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, on the occasion of his recognition as SBCCV Personality of the Year.

Beyond academia, Paulo Évora skillfully balanced his life between science, music, cinema, and family. Passionate about films such as Cinema Paradiso and Something the Lord Made, he often wove cultural references, humor, and sensitivity into his lectures and conversations (Figure 4). His musical tastes included Heroes (David Bowie), The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel), Divisionary - Do the Right Thing (Ages and Ages), and the soulful voice of Nina Simone.

Fig. 4
Dr. Paulo Évora during a Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery session at the 50^th Congress of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular, São Paulo, 2024.

The cornerstone of his personal life was his family: his wife Yolanda Dora Martinez Évora, his children Paulo Eduardo and Patrícia, his son-in-law João Paulo, and his grandchildren Arthur and Alexandre (Figure 5). With them, he shared not only love, but also his passion for travel and the rich stories that he recounted with so much affection.

Fig. 5
Dr. Paulo Évora and his family: Paulo Eduardo, Mrs. Yolanda, Patricia, Alexandre, João Paulo, and Arthur.

Today, those who had the privilege of knowing Paulo Évora can still hear the echo of his traditional greeting: “Good Morning, Vietnam!” - his trademark of joy and warmth. The feeling of loss is immense, yet his presence endures, living on in every mind he inspired and every life he touched.

From the BJCVS, the SBCCV, and all who were honored to walk alongside him, we affirm that this is not a farewell, but simply a heartfelt “see you soon, dear Professor Évora”.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Professor Paulo Évora. We thank Mrs. Yolanda Dora Martinez Évora and her children, Paulo Eduardo Martinez Évora and Patricia Martinez Évora, for reviewing and approving this text, as well as for providing the images used herein.

REFERENCES

• ¹ Evora PR, Carneiro JJ, Manço JC, Marin Neto JA, Gallo L, Sader AA, et al. Intraoperative measurement of the orifice area in patients with mitral valve stenosis. Chest. Agosto de 1983;84(2):180-3.
• ² Andrade JC, Batista Filho ML, Évora PR, Tavares JR, Buffolo Ê, Ribeiro EE, Silva LA, Teles CA, Petrizzo A, Barata Filho VV, Duprat R. Methylene blue administration in the treatment of the vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery. Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery.1996;11:107-14.
• ³ Evora, PR, Celotto, AC, Sumarelli, AA, Évora, PM. Vasoplegic Endothelial Dysfunction: Circulatory Shock and Methylene Blue. 1st ed. Springer Nature Switzerland; 2021.
• ⁴ OS CIRURGIÕES CARDIOVASCULARES FAZEM A NOSSA HISTÓRIA - Dr. Paulo Roberto B. Evora [Internet]. Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery Blog. [citado 02 de abril de 2025]. Disponível em: https://blog.bjcvs.org/single-post/2019/07/24/os-cirurgioes-cardiovasculares-fazem-a-nossa-historia-dr-paulo-roberto-b-evora/
  » https://blog.bjcvs.org/single-post/2019/07/24/os-cirurgioes-cardiovasculares-fazem-a-nossa-historia-dr-paulo-roberto-b-evora/

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  07 July 2025
• Date of issue
  2025