Developed the polio vaccine. Salk never patented it nor earned any
money from his discovery, preferring to see it distributed as widely as
possible. He injected his wife, their sons and himself during the
experimental stages of his vaccine.
Brother of Dr. Lee Salk, a distinguished specialist in neuromuscular
diseases.
Engaged in a four decade long rivalry with Dr. Albert Sabin. Sabin's
live oral polio vaccine was developed at about the same time as Salk's
injected killed virus vaccine, and the debate rages on over which
vaccine has been more effective in combating polio in the long
run.