Bernardino Ramazzini

Born in Carpi, Italy, on October 4, 1633, Bernardino Ramazzini studied at the University of Parma and later taught medicine at the University of Modena. He became known for carefully observing how different kinds of labor affected the body, from exposure to dust and chemicals to the strain of repetitive work.

His best-known book, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers), first published in 1700 and expanded in 1713, is widely regarded as a foundation text of occupational medicine. In it, he described the illnesses associated with many trades and argued that physicians should ask about a patient's work as part of diagnosis.

Ramazzini later served at the University of Padua and remained an influential medical scholar until his death on November 5, 1714. His legacy endures in public health and workplace safety, where his practical, humane approach still feels strikingly modern.