In 1917, the great Brazilian scientist Carlos Chagas promotes a supportive environment to ensure the academic and emotional success of his students.

• Handwritten letter from Carlos Chagas to Professor Barros Sob.
• One page.
• In Portuguese.
• +/- 13 cm x 20 cm.
• Rio de Janeiro, 1917.
• Good condition of conservation.
• Unique piece.

Rio, 1917. My distinguished friend, Professor Barros Sob, I cordially forward your letter and ask for your attention to the student Edgard Barroso Lopes, who, in addition to taking advantage of the opportunity, is afraid of the emotional moments of the exam. With sincere appreciation. Carlos Chagas.

Carlos Chagas was an important Brazilian physician, public health expert and scientist, recognized worldwide for his discovery of Chagas disease in 1909. Born in 1879, he played a crucial role in tropical medicine and public health in Brazil. His career was distinguished not only by his scientific contributions, but also by his work in the area of ​​public health, combating infectious diseases in Brazil.

By 1917, Carlos Chagas had already achieved great notoriety for his discovery of Chagas disease and its impact on Brazilian public health. That year, he was the director of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, one of Brazil's leading scientific institutions dedicated to research into tropical diseases and the fight against epidemics. His work at the Institute involved both scientific research and the supervision of health actions to control diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and Chagas disease itself.

Furthermore, in 1917, Chagas was leading health campaigns throughout Brazil, promoting initiatives to eradicate diseases and improve the health conditions of the population, especially in poorer and less accessible regions. He also dedicated himself to training new professionals in the health area and to consolidating a national medical science, contributing to the international prestige of Brazilian science.

This letter gives us a glimpse of Chagas as a caring mentor, aware of the pressures students faced, especially in the medical field, and interested in fostering a supportive environment to ensure students’ academic and emotional success. Letters from the scientist are rare, and Chagas is certainly one of the great Brazilian figures of the 20th century.