My attraction to gastrointestinal, liver and pancreatobiliary diseases arose from my initial studies in Physiology in 1993. GI interactions and clinical correlations with other systems further stimulated my interest in the area. My affair took its next serious step during my initial training in internal medicine (1998), when I finally decided to become a Gastroenterologist. The wide variety of infectious diseases, neoplastic conditions, and metabolic disorders found in these organs provides infinite challenges for a passionate clinician like me. The hepatologist side was fostered by mentorship under Dr. Aécio Meirelles de Souza, a renowned hepatologist in Brazil. Having finished my house officer training (2001), I applied for postgraduate training at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. After six years under mentorship of Prof. Antonio Eduardo Benedito Silva at the Hepatitis Section, I completed my Ph.D. (2006) and eventually became an Affiliate Professor (2010). I have been very active in clinical practice, research, and teaching. Finally, I believe it is imperative for a committed researcher to broad his experience by working with other groups in order to enhance patient care by integrating new scientific concepts about disease into daily practice.