Sample Biography On Dr. Jonas Salk

Dr. Jonas Salk is believed to be one of the greatest persons that ever lived on this planet. The great innovator thought that the answers to life are frequently lying in people’s experiences rather than in the books and journal articles. Undoubtedly, Salk is the best example of his own words, as such ideas formed the basis his biggest achievement–the first effective polio vaccine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Early life

Jonas Salk was born on October 28, 1914, in New York City. His family was immigrants from Russia, so his parents worked hard to make ends meet. The big impact was made by his mother who decided that she had to make her presence felt in this world with the help of her children. She spent a lot of time with Jonas when he was a child.
Young Salk was keen on reading; mostly all the time he was with a book. He was very intellectual as a young boy in elementary school and his teachers thought that this child would someday change the world. (Carter 29). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
However, in school he did not like. He finished only one science course in high school, physics, and spent most of his time focusing on the subjects that he truly loved like poetry, philosophy, and history. At age of 12, he entered Townsend Harris Hall, a gifted high school for boys in New York City. As Salk went through school, "he understood that he wanted to do something important with his life and something at which he could work freely" (Sherrow). In 1929, he graduate the school, being one of the smartest students in the class. (Carter 30). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Higher Education

After graduating the school in 1929, Salk entered a City College in New York City at the age of 15. He wanted to become a lawyer. Nevertheless, shortly after entering college, his curiosity told him to start a laboratory chemistry course. That moment was the crucial one, as Jonas became interested in science and thought that he wanted to study chemistry. He changed his major from law to chemistry (Sherrow 10).
Inspired by Roosevelt’s speech about poliomyelitis, Jonas wondered how could he make the world better. After some brainstorming and thinking he decided to attend medical school and pursue a career in the field of medical research. He wanted to study and cure incurable diseases. Jonas Salk entered medical school at New York University in 1934 and he held a job as a laboratory technician in order to gain some research experience as he completed his medical coursework.
In 1938, Salk had an opportunity to work with brilliant microbiologist Dr. Francis. During their work together, Salk got valuable experience that killed viruses incited the development of antibody levels as much as the live virus itself. Their work lead to the development of an influenza vaccine and represented Jonas Salk's first major contribution to the world of medical research. (Sherrow 23).

The Path of Glory

In 1941, Dr. Francis and Dr. Salk began their on influenza vaccine. With the help of various experiments, in 1944 thanks to Dr. Francis and Dr. Salk the flu vaccine became available. Jonas Salk started to become popular and began to receive invitations to address scientific conventions. Finally, feeling truly comfortable in the field of medical research, he decided that he wanted to set up his own laboratories. In 1947 he took a position at the University of Pittsburgh. With the help of this position, and the fact that he was allowed to use some of the university’s laboratories for his researches, he started his journey to cure polio. (Wic.org)
Later, he was granted with money to help his research on a polio vaccine. Other researchers received same grants; therefore the race for the cure was on. Salk’s team was ahead when they made progress in growing polioviruses faster than any other teams. Dr. Salk presented his results at the Second International Poliomyelitis Congress in Copenhagen.
2 years later, Salk observed more progress when he developed a successful polio vaccine with the help of dead viruses. Experimented on children with polio, Salk proved that his vaccine works. No children became ill and the essential rise in their antibody levels was the thing that Jones desired. Next experiment must be on the people who never had polio before. Salk vaccinated his entire family, including himself.
The results were positive and, in 1953, he agreed to begin mass trials. In 1954 wide testing started. Half a million children suffering from poliomyelitis were vaccinated. In spring 1955 the long-awaited results of the study came. The results were stunning; Jones Salk’s treatment showed 60%-90% successful rating in preventing poliomyelitis. After years of terrible epidemic called polio, the cure has been found.

Life after Polio

For the next 5 years, Dr. Salk put his researches away, and promoted his cure. After that, he decided that it is enough and was ready to continue his research work. Later, he was offered with, as for me, the wish of every researcher – to create his own biological institute. He was thrilled with the possibility of gathering the best researches under one roof and fighting against diseases. Salk Institute was built in La Jolla, California.
Apart from the polio, he said that he had focused on AIDS research. He had started work on a killed-virus vaccine for AIDS in early 1986, again using his method of employing dead viruses. Even though that the AIDS vaccine has not been invented, his research has produced an immunogen, that can be inserted to slow disease. It is safe to say that it was another great breakthrough by Jonas Salk.

End of the life

In 1995, the great researcher, scientist, doctor and brilliant person died at the age of 80 due to the congestive heart failure. Undoubtedly, his death represents a great loss in the sphere of medicine and biology. He truly changed the world into a better place, and who knows what else he could invent. To great regret, this wonderful man who saved millions of lives never got the Nobel Prize.
However, the recognition that he has around the world is better rather than money or various prizes. The contribution that he has made is impossible to describe with simple words. When someone will ask, who were heroes in the United States, he would be one of them.

Work Cited

Carter, Richard. Breakthrough: The Saga Of Jonas Salk. New York: Trident Press, 1966. Print.
Sherrow, Victoria. Jonas Salk. New York: Facts On File, 1993. Print.Wic.org,. 'WIC Biography - Dr. Jonas Salk'. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.