There have been many famous“ hybrid physician-astronomers” with expertise in both disciplines. Nicholas Copernicus( 1473-1543) is well-known as an astronomer, famous for his heliocentric theory; he was also a physician rising to the position of professor of medicine in Padua. HWM Olbers( 1758-1840) worked as a physician during the day and studied comets during the night at the Vienna observatory. Henry Draper( 1837-1882), a physician in Bellevue hospital in New York was also a learned astronomer; he photographed the Orion Nebula and was a pioneer of stellar spectroscopy. 1 There is also a lunar crater named after Dr. Draper.
By the mid-16 th century, the scientific revolution had begun, and gradually astrological medicine declined so much so it was not part of the medical curriculum. Later evidence-based modern medicine has managed to eliminate it. Nevertheless, it is still prevalent in some parts of the world like India; the National Council for Indian System of Medicine( NCISM) has recently introduced medical astrology as an optional subject for students getting trained in the traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
Although astronomy and medicine have gone their separate ways, it is exciting that there are emerging areas of cooperation and renewed connection between the two scientific pursuits. Thus, space medicine has reconnected the two disciplines to deal with the medical challenges of prolonged space travel( such as loss of muscle
mass and osteoporosis); the future manned mission to Mars has stimulated further research into the effects of prolonged microgravity and potential exposure to radiation. Another exciting observation is the close similarity between radio astronomy and MRI techniques. The US National Science Foundation, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine have been collaborating in the“ Cells to Galaxies” initiative to accelerate future developments. Considering the renewed interest, maybe we will see“ hybrid physician-astronomers” again in the future as in the past!
“ Medicine rests upon four pillars-philosophy, astronomy, alchemy, and ethics.”-Quote attributed to Paracelsus, pioneer of toxicology and inventor of laudanum
References:
1
Strach EH Astronomy and Medicine. J Brit Astron Assoc. 1982 92( 4) 164-169
2
Greenbaum DG. 2015 Astronomy, Astrology and Medicine. In Ruggles C( eds) Handbook of Archeoastronomy. Springer, New York, NY
3
Arriaga-Morales E. Astronomers and physicians: so far away and so close at the same time. Phys Astron Int J. 2020; 4( 6) 198-200
Dr. Iyer practices at the Neurodiagnostic Center of Louisville and is a retired professor of neurology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
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