Provides authoritative biographical coverage of major medical practitioners in all times and cultures. While its emphasis is on practitioners within the Western medical tradition, it also covers practitioners of alternative medicines, as well as major figures within traditional Chinese, Indian, and Islamic medicine. In addition, special essays survey these medical traditions, which are more difficult to appreciate within a biographical framework. Contains over 1100 entries on almost every important figure in medicine who ever lived. Includes extensive overview essays on the important medical traditions of the world--e.g. Chinese, Indian, Islamic. With over 300 images that depict medical practictioners and medical practices from around the world and bibliographies that provide students and researchers the next step in learning about these individuals and their work.