Thomas Francis, Jr.

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Thomas Francis, Jr.
Thomas Francis, Jr.
Born	July 15, 1900
Died	October 1, 1969
Nationality	United States
Fields	virology
Doctoral students	Jonas Salk
Notable awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1946

Dr. Thomas Francis, Jr. (July 15, 1900 – October 1, 1969) was an American physician, virologist, and epidemiologist.

Francis was the first person to isolate influenza virus in America, and in 1940 showed that there are other strains of influenza, and took part in the development of influenza vaccines. As director of the University of Michigan Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center, he conducted the epidemiology studies prior to the release of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine. He is also notable as Salk's postdoctoral advisor.

• He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1946.
• He was elected to the Polio Hall of Fame, which was dedicated in Warm Springs, Georgia on 2 January 1958

[edit] References

• van Helvoort, T. Francis, Thomas, Jr. American National Biography Online Feb. 2000.
• Lambert, S M & Markel, H (2000), “Making history: Thomas Francis, Jr, MD, and the 1954 Salk Poliomyelitis Vaccine Field Trial.”, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine 154 (5): 512-7, 2000 May, PMID:10807305, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10807305> 
• Smith, J S (1992), “Suspended judgment. Remembering the role of Thomas Francis, Jr. in the design of the 1954 Salk Vaccine Trial.”, Controlled clinical trials 13 (3): 181-4, 1992 Jun, PMID:1320555, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1320555> 
• Paul, J R (1974), “Thomas Francis, Jr.”, Biographical memoirs. National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) 44: 57-110, 1974, PMID:11615644, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11615644> 
• Salk, J (1970), “The restless spirit of Thomas Francis, Jr., still lives: the unsolved problems of recurrent influenza epidemics.”, Arch. Environ. Health 21 (3): 273-5, 1970 Sep, PMID:4926858, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4926858> 
• Griffin, H E (1970), “Thomas Francis, Jr., MD: epidemiologist to the military.”, Arch. Environ. Health 21 (3): 252-5, 1970 Sep, PMID:4926854, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4926854> 
• Paul, J (1970), “Thomas Francis, Jr., MD, as a clinician--1900-1969.”, Arch. Environ. Health 21 (3): 247-51, 1970 Sep, PMID:4926853, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4926853> 
• “Thomas Francis, Jr.: an appreciation.”, Arch. Environ. Health 21 (3): 230-6, 1970, 1970 Sep, PMID:4926851, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4926851> 
• MacLeod, C M (1970), “Thomas Francis, Jr., MD, 1900-1969.”, Arch. Environ. Health 21 (3): 226-9, 1970 Sep, PMID:4926850, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4926850> 
• “Infectious Diseases Society of America Bristol Award for distinguished achievement in the field of infectious diseases awarded to Thomas Francis, Jr., M.D. at the seventh meeting of the Society in Washington, D.C., October 25, 1969.”, J. Infect. Dis. 121 (2): 240-1, 1970, 1970 Feb, PMID:4905649, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4905649> 
• McDermott, W (1970), “Thomas Francis, Jr., 1900-1969.”, Trans. Assoc. Am. Physicians 83: 16-8, 1970, PMID:4927289, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4927289>