When Dr. Fernando Augusto de Albuquerque Mendes Filho—yes, it’s a mouthful, but we promise he’s as friendly as his name is long—first considered a move to the U.S., he had three things in mind: great people, a collegial environment, and absolutely minimal snow. Now officially a Clinical Instructor in the MSK section at UNC’s Department of Radiology, he’s found all three (plus the added bonus of excellent Southern food).
Born and raised in northeast Brazil, Fernando grew up in a small town where his father was a local physician and a pillar of the community—the kind of doctor who held consultations in the family garage. From watching his dad care for neighbors to seeing patients drive up to the house for help, Fernando was inspired early by medicine’s power to build trust and serve a community. And though young Fernando once dreamed of being a professional soccer player (we mean footballer), the uncertainty on that path (“I was not that good anyway”) nudged him toward the books—and eventually, into medicine.
He landed on Radiology not through textbooks but through curiosity. “During my rotations, whether it was OB/GYN, Internal Medicine, Neurology, or Orthopedics, we would have a patient and a question, and everyone kept saying, ‘Let’s go to Radiology and ask what they think,’” he recalls. While the dark rooms full of quiet, hyper-focused professionals may have seemed mysterious to others, Fernando saw them as the brains of the operation . “It was like they always had the answers.” For a self-described “learner,” that kind of role was magnetic.
After completing a fellowship in MSK Radiology, Fernando and his family spent a year in Ann Arbor, Michigan—a beautiful place, he notes… except for the whole winter thing. “Coming from northeast Brazil, it was rough,” he laughs. “I needed a place with less snow and more sunlight.”
Fernando spent the last six years in Brazil working in private practice. While he enjoyed the experience both professionally and personally , “ What I found missing in private practice was that constant push to grow academically,” he explains his search for an academic position. “I missed the energy of the reading room—being surrounded by residents and fellows, exchanging ideas, and diving into challenging cases. Those collaborative moments didn’t just help me grow—they elevated everyone around me.”
Enter UNC. A warm climate, a warm welcome, and a laid-back, family-friendly environment made it feel like the right move. The decision became even more evident when he met UNC MSK Chief Dr. Girish Gandikota. “Feelings matter,” he says. “And I felt like this was the right place.”
Now settled in Chapel Hill with his wife and two energetic daughters—seven-year-old Julia and three-month-old Marina—Fernando juggles family life, clinical work, and the occasional jog to clear his head. Between school runs and scanning images, he dreams of one day having the superpower of teleportation: “Breakfast with my mom in Brazil, then back in time for a noon lecture at UNC. Perfect.”
If you run into Fernando in the hallway (or maybe just spot him sprinting after his kids at the playground), you’ll notice his warm demeanor and insatiable curiosity. He calls himself a “learner,” and it shows in his commitment to academic medicine and his deep reflections on life and work. His most significant piece of advice to his younger self? Invest more in human relationships. His biggest hope for Radiology’s future? That people will embrace AI not with fear but with excitement and see how it can enhance our role in patient care—not replace it.
As for his favorite food? Spaghetti. “You can’t be in a bad mood when you’re eating spaghetti,” he says. We’ll take that as medical advice.
So next time you pass Dr. Mendes Filho in the reading room or the cafeteria, say hi—just don’t challenge him to a foot race unless you’re ready to lose to someone who spends his downtime running after two toddlers.
Welcome to UNC, Fernando. We’re thrilled you’re here (and we promise—no snow in the forecast).
For more information about Dr. Mendes check out his profile.