Born in New York City. Graduate of the College of the City of New York in 1934. He was awarded an M.D. from New York University in 1939. Married Donna Lindsay June 8, 1939. They had three sons. Married Francoise Gilot June 29, 1970.

Intern at Mt. Sinai Hospital 1940 to 1942. Taught at the University of Michigan from 1942 to 1947; at University of Pittsburgh 1947 to 1963. Director of Salk Institute for Biological Studies 1963 to 1975. In 1951 he began to search for a polio vaccine. His vaccine was tested in 1954.

Congress awarded a gold medal to Salk August 9, 1955, in recogntion of his discovery. The dies were executed by Gilroy Roberts. The medal was produced by the mint (USM 652). The reverse has this citation: "In Recognition and Appreciation of his Achievement in Developing a Vaccine for Polio."

bio: AMWS 92; CB 1954; ConAut 49; Failor; IntWW 92-93; WAB; WW 93; WWA 94; NUM/NIN 5/96