Born and educated in New York City, Jonas Salk came to U-M in 1942 on a research fellowship. While in Ann Arbor, he reconnected with Thomas Francis Jr., head of epidemiology for the School of Public Health, who was a friend and mentor of Salk’s at New York University. Through their work, Francis taught Salk the methodology of vaccine development. This formed the basis of Salk’s further work, which led to the announcement of his polio vaccine on April 12, 1955, at U-M. Pictured are Salk (right) and Francis at the press conference in Ann Arbor.
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