Medicine is a journey spanning millennia.

From primitive guesses to evidence-based science.
From mysticism — to the microscope.
And every great discovery began with observation, doubt, and experiment.

Over the years, several breakthroughs that reshaped modern healthcare happened in May. We’ve gathered a few key milestones that became turning points for millions of people.

1873 – Description of Huntington’s Disease
American physician George Huntington was the first to thoroughly describe a rare but severe hereditary disorder of the nervous system, characterized by involuntary movements, cognitive decline, and emotional instability.
This was one of the first documented genetic diseases, laying the groundwork for future research in neurology and inherited disorders.

1889 – Discovery of the Pancreas's Role in Metabolism
Scientists Josef von Mering and Oskar Minkowski removed the pancreas from a dog and found that it developed diabetes.
This proved that the pancreas regulates blood sugar — a key step toward the discovery of insulin, which went on to save millions of lives in the 20th century.

1944 – First Successful Use of Dialysis
Dutch physician and engineer Willem Kolff created the first artificial kidney machine — the prototype of modern dialysis.
In May 1944, he performed the first successful dialysis treatment, offering hope to patients with acute kidney failure. Today, millions rely on dialysis worldwide.

1983 – Identification of the HIV Virus
A French research team led by Luc Montagnier was the first to isolate the virus that causes AIDS.
This marked the beginning of the global fight against the epidemic and accelerated advances in immunology, virology, and the treatment of chronic infections.

Today, these discoveries are part of textbooks, medical protocols, and treatment standards. But once, they were bold steps into the unknown — taken for the sake of life and the future.