disease history

Hippocrates

“father of modern medicine” attempted to explain disease occurrence from rational rather than supernatural viewpoint in “On Airs, Waters, & Places,”;

John Graunt

published landmark analysis of mortality data, “Bills of Mortality”, 1st to quantify patterns of birth, death, disease. Saw difference w/ girls & boys, high infant mortality, rural, seasonal variation

James Lind

designed 1st experiment to use concurrently treated control group, determined limes could prevent scurvy

Edward Jenner

(father of immunology) developed smallpox vacc using cowpox;

William Farr

(father of modern vital statistics & surveillance) developed many of basic practices used today in vitalAcro statistics & disease classification using mortality statistics

Joseph Lister

(father of modern surgery) listeria named after him, he used carbolic acid as antiseptic, applied germ theory, found way to prevent wound infection during & after surgery

John Snow

(father of epidemiology) known for his work on cholera outbreaks, he mapped cases in London and advocated for clean water.

Ignaz Semmelweis

(pioneer of hand hygiene) emphasized the importance of handwashing in medical settings to prevent puerperal fever and reduce maternal mortality rates.

Louis Pasteur

Robert Koch

formalized standards (postulates)to identify organisms w/ infectious diseases & demonstrate Bacillus anthracis is cause of anthrax,major contributor to germ theory

Jonas Salk

developed the first effective polio vaccine, greatly reducing the incidence of the disease.

Albert Bruce Sabin

developed the oral polio vaccine, which provided a simpler method of immunization against poliovirus.