David Leith

Dr David Leith is a Lecturer at the University of Exeter, specializing in Graeco-Roman medicine, its intersections with philosophy, and the history of the Hippocratic tradition. His work spans medical sects, Hellenistic intellectual history, and Greek papyri from Ptolemaic/Roman Egypt.

• Education: BA, MA, and PhD in Classics from University College London (2001, 2002, 2006).

Research focuses on:

• Interactions between ancient medicine and philosophy, particularly Hellenistic medical sects (e.g., Methodists, Empiricists, Pneumatists) and figures like Galen and Asclepiades of Bithynia.
• Re-examining the authority of Hippocrates during the Hellenistic period, including critiques of fabricated connections like Polybus as Hippocrates' son-in-law.
• Contributions of Greek papyri to understanding ancient medical practices.

His recent work explores the compilation of the Hippocratic Corpus in Alexandria and its impact on medical authority.

Scientific Awards:

• Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010-2013) at the University of Cambridge.

Grants & Projects: Participated in Wellcome Trust-funded initiatives to edit Oxyrhynchus medical papyri at UCL (2006-2010).