Juliano Moreira: the black Brazilian who greatly influenced the modern school of Neurology in Brazil

Abstract

Juliano Moreira was a black Brazilian physician, well recognized for his role in the foundation of scientific psychiatry in Brazil; however, little is known about his influences on modern Neurology. Our aim is to highlight Moreira’s importance in the field of Neurology and his role in the development of scientific and medical societies in Brazil. We describe his contributions from his doctoral thesis in 1891 to his 27-year tenure as the director of the National Hospice for the Insane. We also review Moreira’s role in the foundation of societies including the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the first Brazilian journal dedicated to Neuropsychiatry, concluding that Moreira was one of the most important influential figures for the development of Neurology in Brazil. In addition to his influences on various medical fields, Moreira distinguished himself as an impactful citizen who fought against racist and xenophobic medical theories of his time.