Hippocrates of Kos ( c. 460 - c. 370 BC) was a Greek physician of the Age of Pericles (Classical Greece), and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. He is referred to as the "Father of Western Medicine" in recognition of his lasting contributions to the field as the founder of the Hippocratic School of Medicine. This intellectual school revolutionized medicine in ancient Greece, establishing it as a discipline distinct from other fields with which it had traditionally been associated (theurgy and philosophy), thus establishing medicine as a profession.

One of the great merits of Hippocrates is that he separated medical science from the prevailing natural philosophical approach. He placed strong emphasis on hygiene, for both doctor and patient, on healthy eating and drinking habits, the importance of fresh air and a natural course of processes in the body.

Not to be confused with Hippocrates of Chios, Greek mathematician of the fifth century. BC, who was born on the island of Chios, not far from Kos.

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