Thomas Francis, Jr.

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