[Giovanbattista da Monte (Montanus): father of modern clinical medicine]

The figure of Giovanbattista da Monte (1489-1551) is associated with the introduction of clinical teaching at the patient's beside, in 1543, at the San Francesco Hospital of Padua. In the XVI century, teaching was still based on the explanation and comment of the ancient authors and the educational programme was founded on theoretical aspects. The "practical" approach consisted of the treatment "ex cathedra" of diseases according to the various parts of the body, without observing the course of the pathological events with a direct confirmation at the patient's beside.To his merit, Da Monte established the practise of training students to gather the case history, to carry out an objective examination, and to closely examine disease phenomena with lessons at the bedside of the patient. Practical clinical training was thus introduced as the crucial moment in the formation of the physician.