medical researcher and virologist, best known for his discovery and development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine
. He was born in New York City
to parents from Ashkenazi Jewish Russia
n immigrant families. Although they themselves did not have much formal education, they were determined to see their children succeed. While attending New York University School of Medicine
, he stood out from his peers not just because of his academic prowess, but because he chose to do medical research instead of becoming a physician.
Until 1955, when the Salk vaccine was introduced, polio was considered the most frightening public health problem of the post-war United States
.
It is courage based on confidence, not daring, and it is confidence based on experience.
I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.
Why did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart compose music?
Nothing happens quite by chance. It's a question of accretion of information and experience ... it's just chance that I happened to be here at this particular time when there was available and at my disposal the great experience of all the investigators who plodded along for a number of years.
Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors.
I have dreams, and I have nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams.
I have the impression that the new generation of young people, are coming up on the scene with a sense "ancestorhood", and with more wisdom than was evident before. I think this comes about as a matter of necessity — Almost as if there is something in us that is innate, something inherent in us, that is destined for a longer term, rather than a shorter term future.