The aim of this qualitative study was to analyze, in the light of Shuman's concept of pedagogical content knowledge, the pedagogical practices of good nursing, medicine and dentistry professors from the perception of students of a public university in southern Brazil. The study comprised 16 students who were approached through interviews focused by vignettes and qualitative indicators. Pedagogical content knowledge is observed when good professors share the learning objectives while associating theory and practice, fostering student reasoning using a wide range of strategies responsive to contents and the public; carefully prepare and organize their lessons; and allow to be evaluated. Pedagogical content knowledge is presented as a differential in teaching practice; however, students perceive these practices in few professors, leading to the need for recommending rooms and strategies for training health teaching staff.