Jonas Salk (October 28, 1914 - June 23, 1995) was an American physician and researcher, best known as the inventor of the first polio vaccine (the eponymous Salk vaccine). He was born in New York City to a Russian-Jewish immigrant family and died in La Jolla, California. During his life he worked in New York, Michigan, Pittsburgh and La Jolla. In his later career, Salk devoted much energy to developing an AIDS vaccine.
Unlike some scientists who sought wealth or fame accompanying their innovations, Salk stated "Who owns my polio vaccine? The people! Could you patent the sun?".
