Department: Extraordinary People

An MSF doctor's story of braving poverty, politics, and bottlenecks to help in the fight against HIV in Lagos.

This arrogant, opinionated person – who may or may not have completed his medical degree – was a pioneer in scientific chemistry and the father of toxicology.

This doctor is often considered the first to perform human dissections in modern times, and wrote a book on anatomy that was used in Europe for over 300 years.

This historical figure's is considered the discoverer of pulmonary circulation.

This person is considered one of the greatest Roman medical writers, and is the author of the first systematic treatise on medicine, but he may not have been a doctor!

This historical figure's name dominated the study of medicine in Europe for four centuries!

From walking six hours back and forth to school each day as a child in the mountains of Nepal, to medical school in tropical Fiji, and becoming the first Sherpa doctor in his homeland …

This army doctor used his travels with the Roman legions to research medicinal plants throughout much of the known world, becoming the most important pharmaceutical writer of ancient times.

An historic doctor who admitted that doctors don't know everything.

Retired USAF Major Van Harl's wife is a USAF officer and nurse. He believes, "If you can't be a nurse – marry one."

Among other achievements, he performed the first studies of the brain, heart, and nerves –

The father of scientific anatomy, and one of the greatest physicians of the ancient world …

Allow us to introduce you to the father of medicine.

RN and paramedic Betsy Gertz could photograph any subject, but she chooses to photograph children, the elderly, and the terminally ill.

She may have been considered a minor goddess, but a cure-all is pretty major.

She may have been considered a minor goddess, but her name survives to this day …

A mythic figure who is the source of an iconographic image of medicine …

Army nursing is only a 4-year commitment, and there's no boot camp!

David Geffen has made a fortune in the entertainment industry. See what he's doing with it.

Dr. Fred Einesman makes acting look like the real thing on ER.