Founder: Kevin Petti, Ph.D.

Anatomia Italiana was founded in 2012 by Kevin Petti, Ph.D., a dual U.S./Italian citizen, college professor, textbook coauthor, and president emeritus of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Petti has taught human anatomy and human dissection at San Diego Miramar College. Since 2015, he has led Global Seminars for San Diego State University. Dr. Petti's educationally oriented programs to Italy and across Europe revive the classical dialogue between anatomists and artists through the rich intellectual and cultural landscape of Italy that shaped both modern medicine and Renaissance mastery.

With expertise in human anatomy and a deep appreciation for his Italian heritage, Dr. Petti bridges disciplines that were never meant to be separate: medicine, art, and language. He is a cultural translator who not only teaches anatomy but restores it to the world that first gave it meaning, connecting art and anatomy, past and present, science and beauty.

An anatomist by profession and a humanist by practice, Dr. Petti weaves the body, history, and Italian culture into one vibrant travel narrative. His academically based programs are tailor-made for intellectually curious travelers wishing to explore the deeper layers of culture and history, providing a fresh perspective on Italy.

Known for his engaging lectures, universities across the U.S. and Europe have invited Dr. Petti to share insights on his interdisciplinary, cross-cultural programming. At the invitation of the Italian government, he has spoken at their Embassy in Washington, D.C., and was featured by Chinese Central Television (CCTV) in their eight-part documentary, 200 Years of Surgery.

A professor at San Diego Miramar College, Dr. Petti has spent decades studying the relationship between artistic representation and anatomical science in Renaissance Italy — particularly in Florence, Bologna, and Padua, the historic centers of anatomical study.

In 2026, Dr. Petti was awarded the inaugural Vesalius Health Humanities Prize at the 5th Vesalius Continuum at the University of Antwerp, Belgium — recognizing his outstanding contributions to the health humanities.