1914-1995

American Virologist and Physician

Jonas Salk is best known for his pioneering research on poliomyelitis ("infantile paralysis") and his development of an injectable killed virus vaccine for prevention of the disease. Wide scale testing in 1954 quickly led to the national distribution of the Salk vaccine. Immunization campaigns resulted in a major reduction in the incidence of poliomyelitis in the United States. Work by Salk's rival, Albert Sabin (1906-1993), led to the development of a live attenuated vaccine that could be administered orally.

Jonas Salk. (AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced with permission.)

Salk was born in New York City. He was the oldest son of Russian-Jewish immigrants who encouraged their children to pursue higher educational and professional goals. Salk attended Townsend Harris High School and the City College of New York. His original intention was to study law, but he was attracted to the...