12
12
0
Jonas Edward Salk (/sɔːlk/; October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) was an American medical researcher and virologist. He discovered and developed one of the first successful polio vaccines. Born in New York City, he attended the City College of New York and New York University School of Medicine, later choosing to do medical research instead of becoming a practicing physician. In 1939, after earning his medical degree, Salk began an internship as a physician scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital.[1] Two years later he was granted a fellowship at the University of Michigan, where he would study flu viruses with his mentor Thomas Francis Jr.[2]
Until 1955, when the Salk vaccine was introduced, polio was considered one of the most frightening public health problems in the world. In the postwar United States, annual epidemics were increasingly devastating. The 1952 U.S. epidemic was the worst outbreak in the nation's history. Of nearly 58,000 cases reported that year, 3,145 people died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis,[3] with most of its victims being children. The "public reaction was to a plague", said historian William L. O'Neill.[4] "Citizens of urban areas were to be terrified every summer when this frightful visitor returned." According to a 2009 PBS documentary, "Apart from the atomic bomb, America's greatest fear was polio."[5] As a result, scientists were in a frantic race to find a way to prevent or cure the disease.
In 1947, Salk accepted an appointment to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In 1948, he undertook a project funded by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the organization that would fund the development of a vaccine, to determine the number of different types of polio virus. Salk saw an opportunity to extend this project towards developing a vaccine against polio, and, together with the skilled research team he assembled, devoted himself to this work for the next seven years. The field trial set up to test the Salk vaccine was, according to O'Neill, "the most elaborate program of its kind in history, involving 20,000 physicians and public health officers, 64,000 school personnel, and 220,000 volunteers." Over 1.8 million school children took part in the trial.[6] When news of the vaccine's success was made public on April 12, 1955, Salk was hailed as a "miracle worker" and the day almost became a national holiday. Around the world, an immediate rush to vaccinate began, with countries including Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, West Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium planning to begin polio immunization campaigns using Salk's vaccine.
Salk campaigned for mandatory vaccination, claiming that public health should be considered a "moral commitment."[7] Salk claimed that his sole focus had been to develop a safe and effective vaccine as rapidly as possible, with no interest in personal profit, and credited this attitude with the fact that there is no patent for the vaccine. However, there would have been no patent either way, as the vaccine was already ruled to be unpatentable due to prior art.[8][9] In 1960, he founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, which is today a center for medical and scientific research. He continued to conduct research and publish books, including Man Unfolding (1972), The Survival of the Wisest (1973), World Population and Human Values: A New Reality (1981), and Anatomy of Reality: Merging of Intuition and Reason (1983). Salk's last years were spent searching for a vaccine against HIV. His personal papers are stored at the University of California, San Diego Library.[10][11]
SGT (Join to see) PO3 Bob McCord] Maj Robert Thornton SPC Douglas Bolton Sgt Albert Castro CPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Cpl (Join to see) SGT Mark Anderson Cpl (Join to see)SFC Craig Dalen CW5 Jack Cardwell SCPO Morris Ramsey LTC Greg Henning SFC Pete KainPVT Mark ZehnerPO2 Rick Fox CWO3 (Join to see) Sgt Deborah Cornatzer TSgt David L.
Until 1955, when the Salk vaccine was introduced, polio was considered one of the most frightening public health problems in the world. In the postwar United States, annual epidemics were increasingly devastating. The 1952 U.S. epidemic was the worst outbreak in the nation's history. Of nearly 58,000 cases reported that year, 3,145 people died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis,[3] with most of its victims being children. The "public reaction was to a plague", said historian William L. O'Neill.[4] "Citizens of urban areas were to be terrified every summer when this frightful visitor returned." According to a 2009 PBS documentary, "Apart from the atomic bomb, America's greatest fear was polio."[5] As a result, scientists were in a frantic race to find a way to prevent or cure the disease.
In 1947, Salk accepted an appointment to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In 1948, he undertook a project funded by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the organization that would fund the development of a vaccine, to determine the number of different types of polio virus. Salk saw an opportunity to extend this project towards developing a vaccine against polio, and, together with the skilled research team he assembled, devoted himself to this work for the next seven years. The field trial set up to test the Salk vaccine was, according to O'Neill, "the most elaborate program of its kind in history, involving 20,000 physicians and public health officers, 64,000 school personnel, and 220,000 volunteers." Over 1.8 million school children took part in the trial.[6] When news of the vaccine's success was made public on April 12, 1955, Salk was hailed as a "miracle worker" and the day almost became a national holiday. Around the world, an immediate rush to vaccinate began, with countries including Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, West Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium planning to begin polio immunization campaigns using Salk's vaccine.
Salk campaigned for mandatory vaccination, claiming that public health should be considered a "moral commitment."[7] Salk claimed that his sole focus had been to develop a safe and effective vaccine as rapidly as possible, with no interest in personal profit, and credited this attitude with the fact that there is no patent for the vaccine. However, there would have been no patent either way, as the vaccine was already ruled to be unpatentable due to prior art.[8][9] In 1960, he founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, which is today a center for medical and scientific research. He continued to conduct research and publish books, including Man Unfolding (1972), The Survival of the Wisest (1973), World Population and Human Values: A New Reality (1981), and Anatomy of Reality: Merging of Intuition and Reason (1983). Salk's last years were spent searching for a vaccine against HIV. His personal papers are stored at the University of California, San Diego Library.[10][11]
SGT (Join to see) PO3 Bob McCord] Maj Robert Thornton SPC Douglas Bolton Sgt Albert Castro CPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Cpl (Join to see) SGT Mark Anderson Cpl (Join to see)SFC Craig Dalen CW5 Jack Cardwell SCPO Morris Ramsey LTC Greg Henning SFC Pete KainPVT Mark ZehnerPO2 Rick Fox CWO3 (Join to see) Sgt Deborah Cornatzer TSgt David L.
Jonas Salk - Wikipedia
Posted from en.wikipedia.org
Birthday
American History
Medicine
Science
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 8
9
9
0
OpenMind - Interview with Dr. Jonas Salk (1985)
Featuring: sustainability, future world, polio vaccine, destiny, nature, survival and life & purpose. Episode: "Man Evolving..."
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that October 28 is the anniversary of the birth of American medical researcher and virologist Jonas Edward Salk who "discovered and developed one of the first successful polio vaccines."
Rest in peace Jonas Edward Salk
OpenMind - Interview with Dr. Jonas Salk (1985)
"Featuring: sustainability, future world, polio vaccine, destiny, nature, survival and life & purpose."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQzs6qqYQg
Images:
1. Jonas Salk in laboratory with test tubes.
2. Jonas Salk inspecting his vaccine.
3. Jonas Salk testing a vaccine.
4. Jonas Salk giving a vaccine to a child.
Biographies
1. thoughtco.com/jonas-salk-
2. myhero.com/jonas-salk-3
1. Background from thoughtco.com/jonas-salk-biography-4171970
"Biography of Jonas Salk: Inventor of the Polio Vaccine
by Robert Longley
Updated July 09, 2018
Jonas Salk (October 28, 1914 – October 28, 1995) was an American medical researcher and physician. While serving as the head of the Virus Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, Salk discovered and perfected the first vaccine found to be safe and effective in preventing polio or infantile paralysis, one of the most-feared and crippling diseases of the early 20th century.
Early Life and Education
Born in New York City to European immigrants Daniel and Dora Salk on October 28, 1914, Jonas resided in the New York Boroughs of the Bronx and Queens with his parents and his two younger brothers, Herman and Lee. Though they were poor, Salk’s parents stressed the importance of education to their sons.
At age 13, Salk entered Townsend Harris High School, a public school for intellectually gifted students. After completing high school in just three years, Salk attended the City College of New York (CCNY), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1934. After earning his M.D. from New York University in 1939, Salk served a two-year medical internship at New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital. As a result of his efforts at Mount Sinai, Salk was awarded a fellowship to the University of Michigan, where he studied alongside renowned epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Francis Jr., in an attempt to develop a vaccine for the flu virus.
Personal and Family Life
Salk married social worker Donna Lindsay on the day after he graduated from medical school in 1939. Before divorcing in 1968, the couple had three sons: Peter, Darrell, and Jonathan. In 1970, Salk married Françoise Gilot, a French painter and former romantic partner of Pablo Picasso.
Development of the Salk Polio Vaccine
In 1947, Salk was named head of the University of Pittsburgh’s Virus Research Lab, where he began his history-making research on polio. In 1948, with added funding from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis—now called the March of Dimes—Salk expanded his laboratory and research team.
By 1951, Salk had identified three distinct strains of the polio virus and had developed a vaccine he believed would prevent the disease. Known as a “killed virus,” the vaccine utilized laboratory-grown live polio viruses that had been made chemically incapable of reproducing. Once in the patient’s bloodstream, the vaccine’s benign polio virus tricked the immune system into producing disease-fighting antibodies without the risk of exposing healthy patients to live polio virus. Salk’s use of “killed virus” was looked at skeptically by most virologists at the time, especially Dr. Albert Sabin, who believed that only live viruses could be effective in vaccines.
Testing and Approval
After preliminary tests on laboratory animals proved successful, Salk began testing his polio vaccine on children on July 2, 1952. In one of the largest medical tests in history, nearly 2 million young “polio pioneers” were injected with the vaccine over the next two years. In 1953, Salk tested the still-experimental vaccine on himself and his wife and sons.
On April 12, 1955, the Salk polio vaccine was declared safe and effective. The headlines screamed, “Polio is Conquered!” as celebrations erupted across the nation. Suddenly a national hero, the 40-year-old Salk was given a special presidential citation by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a White House ceremony. A tearful Eisenhower told the young researcher, “I have no words to thank you. I am very, very happy.”
Impact of the Salk Vaccine
The Salk vaccine had an immediate impact. In 1952, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia had reported more than 57,000 cases of polio in the United States. By 1962, that number had fallen to less than one thousand. Salk’s vaccine would soon be replaced by Albert Sabin’s live virus vaccine because it was less expensive to produce and could be administered orally rather than by injection.
On the day his vaccine was declared “safe, effective and potent,” Salk was interviewed by legendary television news anchor Edward R. Murrow. When asked who owned the patent, Salk replied, “Well, the people, I would say,” referring to the millions of dollars for research and testing raised by the March of Dimes campaign. He added, “There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?”
Philosophical Views
Jonas Salk subscribed to his own unique philosophy he called “biophilosophy.” Salk described biophilosophy as a “biological, evolutionary point of view to philosophical, cultural, social and psychological problems.” He wrote several books on the topic of biophilosophy throughout his lifetime.
In a 1980 interview by the New York Times, Salk shared his thoughts on biophilosophy and how drastic changes in the human population would bring new innovative ways of thinking about human nature and medicine. “I think of biological knowledge as providing useful analogies for understanding human nature,” he said. “People think of biology in terms of such practical matters as drugs, but its contribution to knowledge about living systems and ourselves will in the future be equally important.”
Honors and Awards
Defeating polio brought Salk a raft of honors from politicians, colleges, hospitals, and public health organizations. A few of the most notable of these include:
• 1955: awarded a special presidential citation from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• 1955: given the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Meritorious Service Medal.
• 1958: elected to the Polio Hall of Fame, a part of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation in Warm Springs, Georgia.
• 1975: awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
• 1976: awarded the Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award.
• 1977: given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter.
• 2012: in honor of Salk’s birthday, October 24 was designated “World Polio Day.”
In addition, several noted universities and medical colleges offer scholarships in Salk’s memory.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1963, Salk established and directed his own medical research organization, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where he and his team sought cures for diseases including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. After being named the institute’s founding director in 1975, Salk would continue to study AIDS, HIV, Alzheimer’s, and aging until his death. Salk died of heart disease at age 80 on June 23, 1995, at his home in La Jolla, California.
While he will always be remembered as the man who stopped polio, Salk contributed to other advances in the fields of medicine, biology, philosophy, and even architecture. As a staunch advocate for the practical, rather than the theoretical, use of scientific research, Salk was responsible for several advances in vaccinology—the creation of vaccines for the treatment of human and animal diseases. In addition, Salk’s unique “biophilosophical” view of human life and society led him to create the field of psychoneuroimmunology—the study of the effect of the mind on health and resistance to disease.
Jonas Salk Fast Facts
• Full Name: Jonas Edward Salk
• Known For: Developed first successful polio vaccine
• Born: October 28, 1914 in New York City, New York, U.S.A.
• Parents: Daniel and Dora Salk
• Died: June 23, 1995 in La Jolla, California
• Education: City College of New York, Bachelor of Science, 1934; New York University, M.D., 1939
• Published Works: Man Unfolding (1972); Survival of the Wisest (1973); How Like an Angel: Biology and the Nature of Man (1975); World Population and Human Values: A New Reality (1981); Anatomy of Reality: Merging of Intuition and Reason (1983)
• Most Notable Awards: Presidential Citation (1955); Congressional Gold Medal (1975); Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977)
• Spouses' Names: Donna Lindsay (1939-1968); Françoise Gilot (1970)
• Children's Names: Peter, Darrell, and Jonathan
• Famous Quote: “I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” (after receiving Congressional Medal for Distinguished Civilian Achievement in 1956)
Sources
• “About Jonas Salk – Salk Institute for Biological Studies.” Salk Institute for Biological Studies
• Glueck, Grace. "Salk Studies Man's Future" The New York Times, April 8, 1980
• Oshinsk, David. “‘Jonas Salk: A Life,’ by Charlotte DeCroes Jacobs.” New York Times book review, June 5, 2015
• “A Science Odyssey: People and Discoveries: Salk produces polio vaccine.” PBS.org"
2, Background from myhero.com/jonas-salk-3
"Jonas Salk
by Amanda Audette from San Diego, California in United States
“Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the 'hero' within us is revealed” (Bob Riley). Everyone possesses the ability to become a hero in trying times, but what makes a person a hero is that people look up to them. Generally, admirable heroes are determined to accomplish their goal and selfless enough so that when it comes down to saving themselves or the world they chose the greater good. Determination is when you feel like you are your breaking point, but you still try to keep going for everyone else’s benefit. Determination and selflessness go hand in hand as selfless people tend to be determined. Selflessness can be found when a person will sacrifice everything they have for the greater good. Selfless people will do anything for anyone so that they have made a positive change in some else’s life. People look up to heroes because they have what the people wish to see within themselves. They embody the goal’s people want to achieve, but won't actually reach. When times get rough there will always be a hero who rises to the occasion. To be a hero you must have the ability to stay determined and accomplish your goal, and selflessly help others, should you need to.
Jonas Salk inspecting his vaccinehttp://http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jonas-salk-m-d/Even though you might worship your hero, some people might not see what is so admirable about them. One of the most controversial heroes of his time was Jonas Salk who revolutionized medicine. When Salk first tried to revolutionize vaccines, he was relatively new to the field. Yet, unlike other scientists at the time, he thought about a dead virus vaccine instead of a live one; which was thought to be the only working vaccine at the time. Many other scientists laughed at him, but Salk was certain that he was right. Eventually, he created the first successful polio vaccine which immunized approximately 90% of America. During his research, Salk overcame many hardships and he risked everything he had to find a vaccine so that people wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Jonas Salk’s dedication to his research despite his colleague’s objections, and his selflessness and will to sacrifice everything he had to save people’s lives made him one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century.
Salk’s determination to succeed despite other people’s criticism let him create the first successful polio vaccine. He took the medical world by storm in his attempt to create a polio vaccine and Salk looked at the information with a whole new set of eyes and a fresh perspective. This resulted in Salk’s revolutionary theories, which didn't go over well with some of his associates: “Despite Salk's confidence in his findings, many of his colleagues were skeptical, believing that a killed-virus vaccine could not possibly be effective. His dubious standing was further compounded by the fact that he was relatively new to polio vaccine research. His competitors in the race to develop the vaccine--most notably Albert Sabin, the leading proponent of a live-virus vaccine--had been working for years and were irked by the presence of this upstart with unorthodox ideas” (“Jonas Salk”). Due to his novice in the polio vaccine community Salk’s colleagues doubted his methods and he became an outcast of the community. His peers believed that his theories were wrong due to all of their previous refuting Salk’s claim. These scientists have committed their lives to their studies, spent countless hours in their labs, and used thousands of dollars to fund their research. For an amateur scientist to come in and tell them they are wrong was absolutely preposterous. These scientists truly believed that a live-virus vaccine was the only type of vaccine that would work. Even though Salk was confident that his vaccine was effective, his fellow scientists didn't believe him and they wouldn't hear him out. Despite all of this, Salk remained determined in his quest to create a vaccine that was safe and effective. His innovative and amazing outside side of the box thinking shed some light on the mystery of the illusive polio vaccine. “Salk's idea of using a dead virus to stimulate the body into recognizing the virus and then providing immunity to it was a new one. Many people scoffed at the idea because it went against all of the current theories of viral research. The general scientific consensus at the time was that the body could only provide immunity to a virus that was still living. Salk brought up the idea of making a dead virus vaccine at a conference in New York, where he was laughed at by Albert Sabin, who was to be his lifelong rival” ("Jonas Salk."). Salk’s idea of a dead virus vaccine shook the biology community. His extraordinary determination allowed him to keep fighting for his theory, even though no one would hear him out. Due to his extremely stubborn colleagues being adamant about him being wrong, Salk went the extra mile to prove his theory of dead virus vaccines. If Salk had not been determined then his vaccine wouldn't have saved thousands of lives.
Jonas Salk testing a vaccinehttp://witnify.com/eisenhower-thanks-jonas-salk-for-the-polio-vaccine/Salk’s selfless drive for the good of the people pushed him to create the vaccine that saved the lives of people all around the world. He was willing to risk everything if it meant other people would have the chance at a better life. His selflessness is portrayed further when he is faced with his stubborn peers: “Contrary to the era’s prevailing scientific opinion, Salk believed his vaccine, composed of ‘killed’ polio virus, could immunize without risk of infecting the patient. Salk administered the vaccine to volunteers who had not had polio, including himself, his lab scientist, his wife and their children. All developed anti-polio antibodies and experienced no negative reactions to the vaccine” (“About Jonas Salk”). He was willing to risk life and limb for the greater good and all of humanity will forever be positively affected by his sacrifices. For example, he was so dedicated to his cause that was willing to inject not only himself but his family and friends with the vaccine. If the vaccine had not worked, then there would have been severe consequences such as them developing polio and eventually becoming paralyzed. Until his vaccines were tested for any minuscule errors, Salk couldn’t give people his vaccines: “On April 12, 1955, the results were announced: the vaccine was safe and effective. In the two years before the vaccine was widely available, the average number of polio cases in the U.S. was more than 45,000. By 1962, that number had dropped to 910. Hailed as a miracle worker, Salk never patented the vaccine or earned any money from his discovery, preferring it be distributed as widely as possible”(“About Jonas Salk.”). Unlike many scientists before him, money was not a driving force for Salk in creating the vaccine. Although his vaccine was used all throughout the US, Salk never patented it so that every man, women, and child in the US could live a polio-free existence. If he had the vaccine patented, then not everyone would be able to have access to it and there would have been hundreds of more polio cases in 1955. This factor alone is a true testament to Salk being an extremely selfless human being with the utmost character.
Jonas Salk giving a vaccine to a childhttps://http://www.daytodaygk.com/meet-greatest-scientists-world/Salk’s extraordinary determination and remarkable selflessness were key factors in his creation of the vaccine that changed America. To Salk creating the polio vaccine wasn't something to be rewarded for. If anything, the vaccine was Salk’s greatest gift to the medical community and the rest of the world. He could have patented the vaccine and made a fortune off of it, yet he chose not to; he wanted the vaccine available to everyone, not just the people who could afford it. Salk even went so far as to risk his and his family's lives to test the vaccine to ensure that it would work. When he was sharing his theories of the vaccine to his colleagues, they laughed at him. What Salk proposed went against all medical theories at the time and he was thought to be crazy. Nevertheless, he stayed determined to find a vaccine so that people wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Without his determination to succeed and will to put the greater good before himself, Salk wouldn't have become the inspirational hero that we know today. His selfless actions have inspired many scientists to join his field so that they too can change the world. While his determination has inspired people to ignore their doubters and keep trying until they accomplish their goal. Jonas Salk helped save many lives, including our own because doctors still give babies polio vaccines today. So without his creation, many of us wouldn't be here today. Jonas Salk became the hero he needed to be due to the polio epidemic that was ravaging the country and ruining people’s lives. When trouble arises someone has to step forth and take a stand to ensure the safety of our world, and these heroes tend to come from unexpected places.
Works Cited
“About Jonas Salk.” Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
http://www.salk.edu/about/history-of-salk/jonas-salk/.
"Jonas Salk." Newsmakers, Gale, 1995. Student Resources in Context,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K [login to see] /SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=d562a6be. Accessed 21 Dec. 2017.
"Jonas Salk." Scientists: Their Lives and Works, UXL, 2006. Biography in Context,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K [login to see] /BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=1e5a6bd9. Accessed
8 Jan. 2018.
“The Salk Vaccine.” Eisenhower President Archives, 29 Apr. 1955,
http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/salk/Salk_K.pdf.
Page created on 2/27/2018 4:26:39 AM
Last edited 2/27/2018 4:55:49 AM"
FYI SFC Armando SanchezCMSgt (Join to see)SPC Mark HuddlestonSGT Rick ColburnSgt Vance BondsSGT Mark Halmrast
CPT Scott Sharon Maj Robert ThorntonSSgt Brian Brakke
SGT Brent ScottPO2 Rick FoxPO1 H Gene LawrencePO2 Kevin ParkerSGT James MurphyCPT (Join to see) MSgt David HoffmanSgt (Join to see)Sgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)
Rest in peace Jonas Edward Salk
OpenMind - Interview with Dr. Jonas Salk (1985)
"Featuring: sustainability, future world, polio vaccine, destiny, nature, survival and life & purpose."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQzs6qqYQg
Images:
1. Jonas Salk in laboratory with test tubes.
2. Jonas Salk inspecting his vaccine.
3. Jonas Salk testing a vaccine.
4. Jonas Salk giving a vaccine to a child.
Biographies
1. thoughtco.com/jonas-salk-
2. myhero.com/jonas-salk-3
1. Background from thoughtco.com/jonas-salk-biography-4171970
"Biography of Jonas Salk: Inventor of the Polio Vaccine
by Robert Longley
Updated July 09, 2018
Jonas Salk (October 28, 1914 – October 28, 1995) was an American medical researcher and physician. While serving as the head of the Virus Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, Salk discovered and perfected the first vaccine found to be safe and effective in preventing polio or infantile paralysis, one of the most-feared and crippling diseases of the early 20th century.
Early Life and Education
Born in New York City to European immigrants Daniel and Dora Salk on October 28, 1914, Jonas resided in the New York Boroughs of the Bronx and Queens with his parents and his two younger brothers, Herman and Lee. Though they were poor, Salk’s parents stressed the importance of education to their sons.
At age 13, Salk entered Townsend Harris High School, a public school for intellectually gifted students. After completing high school in just three years, Salk attended the City College of New York (CCNY), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1934. After earning his M.D. from New York University in 1939, Salk served a two-year medical internship at New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital. As a result of his efforts at Mount Sinai, Salk was awarded a fellowship to the University of Michigan, where he studied alongside renowned epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Francis Jr., in an attempt to develop a vaccine for the flu virus.
Personal and Family Life
Salk married social worker Donna Lindsay on the day after he graduated from medical school in 1939. Before divorcing in 1968, the couple had three sons: Peter, Darrell, and Jonathan. In 1970, Salk married Françoise Gilot, a French painter and former romantic partner of Pablo Picasso.
Development of the Salk Polio Vaccine
In 1947, Salk was named head of the University of Pittsburgh’s Virus Research Lab, where he began his history-making research on polio. In 1948, with added funding from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis—now called the March of Dimes—Salk expanded his laboratory and research team.
By 1951, Salk had identified three distinct strains of the polio virus and had developed a vaccine he believed would prevent the disease. Known as a “killed virus,” the vaccine utilized laboratory-grown live polio viruses that had been made chemically incapable of reproducing. Once in the patient’s bloodstream, the vaccine’s benign polio virus tricked the immune system into producing disease-fighting antibodies without the risk of exposing healthy patients to live polio virus. Salk’s use of “killed virus” was looked at skeptically by most virologists at the time, especially Dr. Albert Sabin, who believed that only live viruses could be effective in vaccines.
Testing and Approval
After preliminary tests on laboratory animals proved successful, Salk began testing his polio vaccine on children on July 2, 1952. In one of the largest medical tests in history, nearly 2 million young “polio pioneers” were injected with the vaccine over the next two years. In 1953, Salk tested the still-experimental vaccine on himself and his wife and sons.
On April 12, 1955, the Salk polio vaccine was declared safe and effective. The headlines screamed, “Polio is Conquered!” as celebrations erupted across the nation. Suddenly a national hero, the 40-year-old Salk was given a special presidential citation by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a White House ceremony. A tearful Eisenhower told the young researcher, “I have no words to thank you. I am very, very happy.”
Impact of the Salk Vaccine
The Salk vaccine had an immediate impact. In 1952, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia had reported more than 57,000 cases of polio in the United States. By 1962, that number had fallen to less than one thousand. Salk’s vaccine would soon be replaced by Albert Sabin’s live virus vaccine because it was less expensive to produce and could be administered orally rather than by injection.
On the day his vaccine was declared “safe, effective and potent,” Salk was interviewed by legendary television news anchor Edward R. Murrow. When asked who owned the patent, Salk replied, “Well, the people, I would say,” referring to the millions of dollars for research and testing raised by the March of Dimes campaign. He added, “There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?”
Philosophical Views
Jonas Salk subscribed to his own unique philosophy he called “biophilosophy.” Salk described biophilosophy as a “biological, evolutionary point of view to philosophical, cultural, social and psychological problems.” He wrote several books on the topic of biophilosophy throughout his lifetime.
In a 1980 interview by the New York Times, Salk shared his thoughts on biophilosophy and how drastic changes in the human population would bring new innovative ways of thinking about human nature and medicine. “I think of biological knowledge as providing useful analogies for understanding human nature,” he said. “People think of biology in terms of such practical matters as drugs, but its contribution to knowledge about living systems and ourselves will in the future be equally important.”
Honors and Awards
Defeating polio brought Salk a raft of honors from politicians, colleges, hospitals, and public health organizations. A few of the most notable of these include:
• 1955: awarded a special presidential citation from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• 1955: given the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Meritorious Service Medal.
• 1958: elected to the Polio Hall of Fame, a part of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation in Warm Springs, Georgia.
• 1975: awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
• 1976: awarded the Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award.
• 1977: given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter.
• 2012: in honor of Salk’s birthday, October 24 was designated “World Polio Day.”
In addition, several noted universities and medical colleges offer scholarships in Salk’s memory.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1963, Salk established and directed his own medical research organization, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where he and his team sought cures for diseases including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. After being named the institute’s founding director in 1975, Salk would continue to study AIDS, HIV, Alzheimer’s, and aging until his death. Salk died of heart disease at age 80 on June 23, 1995, at his home in La Jolla, California.
While he will always be remembered as the man who stopped polio, Salk contributed to other advances in the fields of medicine, biology, philosophy, and even architecture. As a staunch advocate for the practical, rather than the theoretical, use of scientific research, Salk was responsible for several advances in vaccinology—the creation of vaccines for the treatment of human and animal diseases. In addition, Salk’s unique “biophilosophical” view of human life and society led him to create the field of psychoneuroimmunology—the study of the effect of the mind on health and resistance to disease.
Jonas Salk Fast Facts
• Full Name: Jonas Edward Salk
• Known For: Developed first successful polio vaccine
• Born: October 28, 1914 in New York City, New York, U.S.A.
• Parents: Daniel and Dora Salk
• Died: June 23, 1995 in La Jolla, California
• Education: City College of New York, Bachelor of Science, 1934; New York University, M.D., 1939
• Published Works: Man Unfolding (1972); Survival of the Wisest (1973); How Like an Angel: Biology and the Nature of Man (1975); World Population and Human Values: A New Reality (1981); Anatomy of Reality: Merging of Intuition and Reason (1983)
• Most Notable Awards: Presidential Citation (1955); Congressional Gold Medal (1975); Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977)
• Spouses' Names: Donna Lindsay (1939-1968); Françoise Gilot (1970)
• Children's Names: Peter, Darrell, and Jonathan
• Famous Quote: “I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” (after receiving Congressional Medal for Distinguished Civilian Achievement in 1956)
Sources
• “About Jonas Salk – Salk Institute for Biological Studies.” Salk Institute for Biological Studies
• Glueck, Grace. "Salk Studies Man's Future" The New York Times, April 8, 1980
• Oshinsk, David. “‘Jonas Salk: A Life,’ by Charlotte DeCroes Jacobs.” New York Times book review, June 5, 2015
• “A Science Odyssey: People and Discoveries: Salk produces polio vaccine.” PBS.org"
2, Background from myhero.com/jonas-salk-3
"Jonas Salk
by Amanda Audette from San Diego, California in United States
“Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the 'hero' within us is revealed” (Bob Riley). Everyone possesses the ability to become a hero in trying times, but what makes a person a hero is that people look up to them. Generally, admirable heroes are determined to accomplish their goal and selfless enough so that when it comes down to saving themselves or the world they chose the greater good. Determination is when you feel like you are your breaking point, but you still try to keep going for everyone else’s benefit. Determination and selflessness go hand in hand as selfless people tend to be determined. Selflessness can be found when a person will sacrifice everything they have for the greater good. Selfless people will do anything for anyone so that they have made a positive change in some else’s life. People look up to heroes because they have what the people wish to see within themselves. They embody the goal’s people want to achieve, but won't actually reach. When times get rough there will always be a hero who rises to the occasion. To be a hero you must have the ability to stay determined and accomplish your goal, and selflessly help others, should you need to.
Jonas Salk inspecting his vaccinehttp://http://www.achievement.org/achiever/jonas-salk-m-d/Even though you might worship your hero, some people might not see what is so admirable about them. One of the most controversial heroes of his time was Jonas Salk who revolutionized medicine. When Salk first tried to revolutionize vaccines, he was relatively new to the field. Yet, unlike other scientists at the time, he thought about a dead virus vaccine instead of a live one; which was thought to be the only working vaccine at the time. Many other scientists laughed at him, but Salk was certain that he was right. Eventually, he created the first successful polio vaccine which immunized approximately 90% of America. During his research, Salk overcame many hardships and he risked everything he had to find a vaccine so that people wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Jonas Salk’s dedication to his research despite his colleague’s objections, and his selflessness and will to sacrifice everything he had to save people’s lives made him one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century.
Salk’s determination to succeed despite other people’s criticism let him create the first successful polio vaccine. He took the medical world by storm in his attempt to create a polio vaccine and Salk looked at the information with a whole new set of eyes and a fresh perspective. This resulted in Salk’s revolutionary theories, which didn't go over well with some of his associates: “Despite Salk's confidence in his findings, many of his colleagues were skeptical, believing that a killed-virus vaccine could not possibly be effective. His dubious standing was further compounded by the fact that he was relatively new to polio vaccine research. His competitors in the race to develop the vaccine--most notably Albert Sabin, the leading proponent of a live-virus vaccine--had been working for years and were irked by the presence of this upstart with unorthodox ideas” (“Jonas Salk”). Due to his novice in the polio vaccine community Salk’s colleagues doubted his methods and he became an outcast of the community. His peers believed that his theories were wrong due to all of their previous refuting Salk’s claim. These scientists have committed their lives to their studies, spent countless hours in their labs, and used thousands of dollars to fund their research. For an amateur scientist to come in and tell them they are wrong was absolutely preposterous. These scientists truly believed that a live-virus vaccine was the only type of vaccine that would work. Even though Salk was confident that his vaccine was effective, his fellow scientists didn't believe him and they wouldn't hear him out. Despite all of this, Salk remained determined in his quest to create a vaccine that was safe and effective. His innovative and amazing outside side of the box thinking shed some light on the mystery of the illusive polio vaccine. “Salk's idea of using a dead virus to stimulate the body into recognizing the virus and then providing immunity to it was a new one. Many people scoffed at the idea because it went against all of the current theories of viral research. The general scientific consensus at the time was that the body could only provide immunity to a virus that was still living. Salk brought up the idea of making a dead virus vaccine at a conference in New York, where he was laughed at by Albert Sabin, who was to be his lifelong rival” ("Jonas Salk."). Salk’s idea of a dead virus vaccine shook the biology community. His extraordinary determination allowed him to keep fighting for his theory, even though no one would hear him out. Due to his extremely stubborn colleagues being adamant about him being wrong, Salk went the extra mile to prove his theory of dead virus vaccines. If Salk had not been determined then his vaccine wouldn't have saved thousands of lives.
Jonas Salk testing a vaccinehttp://witnify.com/eisenhower-thanks-jonas-salk-for-the-polio-vaccine/Salk’s selfless drive for the good of the people pushed him to create the vaccine that saved the lives of people all around the world. He was willing to risk everything if it meant other people would have the chance at a better life. His selflessness is portrayed further when he is faced with his stubborn peers: “Contrary to the era’s prevailing scientific opinion, Salk believed his vaccine, composed of ‘killed’ polio virus, could immunize without risk of infecting the patient. Salk administered the vaccine to volunteers who had not had polio, including himself, his lab scientist, his wife and their children. All developed anti-polio antibodies and experienced no negative reactions to the vaccine” (“About Jonas Salk”). He was willing to risk life and limb for the greater good and all of humanity will forever be positively affected by his sacrifices. For example, he was so dedicated to his cause that was willing to inject not only himself but his family and friends with the vaccine. If the vaccine had not worked, then there would have been severe consequences such as them developing polio and eventually becoming paralyzed. Until his vaccines were tested for any minuscule errors, Salk couldn’t give people his vaccines: “On April 12, 1955, the results were announced: the vaccine was safe and effective. In the two years before the vaccine was widely available, the average number of polio cases in the U.S. was more than 45,000. By 1962, that number had dropped to 910. Hailed as a miracle worker, Salk never patented the vaccine or earned any money from his discovery, preferring it be distributed as widely as possible”(“About Jonas Salk.”). Unlike many scientists before him, money was not a driving force for Salk in creating the vaccine. Although his vaccine was used all throughout the US, Salk never patented it so that every man, women, and child in the US could live a polio-free existence. If he had the vaccine patented, then not everyone would be able to have access to it and there would have been hundreds of more polio cases in 1955. This factor alone is a true testament to Salk being an extremely selfless human being with the utmost character.
Jonas Salk giving a vaccine to a childhttps://http://www.daytodaygk.com/meet-greatest-scientists-world/Salk’s extraordinary determination and remarkable selflessness were key factors in his creation of the vaccine that changed America. To Salk creating the polio vaccine wasn't something to be rewarded for. If anything, the vaccine was Salk’s greatest gift to the medical community and the rest of the world. He could have patented the vaccine and made a fortune off of it, yet he chose not to; he wanted the vaccine available to everyone, not just the people who could afford it. Salk even went so far as to risk his and his family's lives to test the vaccine to ensure that it would work. When he was sharing his theories of the vaccine to his colleagues, they laughed at him. What Salk proposed went against all medical theories at the time and he was thought to be crazy. Nevertheless, he stayed determined to find a vaccine so that people wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Without his determination to succeed and will to put the greater good before himself, Salk wouldn't have become the inspirational hero that we know today. His selfless actions have inspired many scientists to join his field so that they too can change the world. While his determination has inspired people to ignore their doubters and keep trying until they accomplish their goal. Jonas Salk helped save many lives, including our own because doctors still give babies polio vaccines today. So without his creation, many of us wouldn't be here today. Jonas Salk became the hero he needed to be due to the polio epidemic that was ravaging the country and ruining people’s lives. When trouble arises someone has to step forth and take a stand to ensure the safety of our world, and these heroes tend to come from unexpected places.
Works Cited
“About Jonas Salk.” Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
http://www.salk.edu/about/history-of-salk/jonas-salk/.
"Jonas Salk." Newsmakers, Gale, 1995. Student Resources in Context,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K [login to see] /SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=d562a6be. Accessed 21 Dec. 2017.
"Jonas Salk." Scientists: Their Lives and Works, UXL, 2006. Biography in Context,
https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K [login to see] /BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=1e5a6bd9. Accessed
8 Jan. 2018.
“The Salk Vaccine.” Eisenhower President Archives, 29 Apr. 1955,
http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/salk/Salk_K.pdf.
Page created on 2/27/2018 4:26:39 AM
Last edited 2/27/2018 4:55:49 AM"
FYI SFC Armando SanchezCMSgt (Join to see)SPC Mark HuddlestonSGT Rick ColburnSgt Vance BondsSGT Mark Halmrast
CPT Scott Sharon Maj Robert ThorntonSSgt Brian Brakke
SGT Brent ScottPO2 Rick FoxPO1 H Gene LawrencePO2 Kevin ParkerSGT James MurphyCPT (Join to see) MSgt David HoffmanSgt (Join to see)Sgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)
(9)
(0)
4
4
0
4
4
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google