The Portuguese Anatomical Society (AAP/SAP) and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) mourn the demise of Emeritus Professor José António Esperança Pina, who died on 21 October of 2020. Professor Esperança Pina was Professor and Chairman of Anatomy and of Deontology, Bioethics and Medical Law at the NOVA Medical School / Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Professor and Chairman of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law at the Law School of the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon. Among other positions he held, he was President of the Installer Commission of the Faculty of Medical Sciences / NOVA Medical School of the NOVA University of Lisbon (1977-1980); President of the National Council of Teaching and Medical Education of the Order of Physicians (1978-1980); President of the Scientific Council of Health Sciences of INIC (1979-1991); Member of the National Council of Higher Education (1979-1982); Vice-Rector of the NOVA University of Lisbon (1980-1982); Rector of the NOVA University of Lisbon (1982-1991); Representative of Portugal at the European Medical Research Council of the European Science Foundation (1982-1991); President of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (1987-1989); President of the Council for Social Action on Higher Education (1989-1991); Member of the Standing Committee of the Superior Council of Science and Technology (1987-1989); Member of the National Council of Education (1988-1991); Representative of Portugal in the steering group of the OECD IMHE programme (1980-1998); President of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) (1994-1999); President of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the NOVA University of Lisbon (1994-2002); Member of the National Council of Deontology and Ethics of the Order of Physicians and Rapporteur of the Code of Ethics (2005-2008); Dean Professor, NOVA Medical School / Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA University of Lisbon (1977-2008); Dean Professor of the NOVA University of Lisbon (2003-2008); Emeritus Professor, NOVA Medical School / Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA University of Lisbon (14.06.2008). Professor José António Esperança Pina was Honorary Secretary General of the International Committee of Symposia on Morphological Sciences (ICSMS). From March 2015 and until his death he was a member of the Fifth Mandate of the National Council of Ethics for Life Sciences, by designation of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences.

He has held and collaborated in 623 lectures, plenary lectures, round tables, symposia and oral presentations, published 154 scientific, pedagogical and artistic anatomy papers, and 20 scientific and didactic books, with several editions.

He was an Effective Member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences (Chair C29); Full Academic of the National Academy of Medicine of Portugal and the Portuguese Academy of Dental Medicine.

He was graced with the Legion of Honor of France in 1984, the Order of Public Instruction of Portugal (Grand Officer) in 1985, the Military Order of Santiago de Espada of Portugal (Grand Officer) in 1988 and the Order of Public Instruction of Portugal (Grâ-Cruz) in 2017.

The International Federation of Associations of Anatomists and the Portuguese Anatomical Society will honor Professor Esperança Pina’s memory.

He will be sorely missed.