William Hammon

William McDowall Hammon (1904 – September 19, 1989) was an American physician and researcher, best known for his work on poliomyelitis.[2][3] In his early twenties and prior to becoming a research physician, Hammon worked for four years as a medical missionary in the former Belgian Congo. After returning, he received his undergraduate degree from Allegheny College in 1932.[1] Completing his medical training at Harvard Medical School in 1936,[1] Hammon then studied with the bacteriologist Hans Zinsser, receiving a Master of Public Health degree in 1938, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1939.[3] During this period Hammon co-discovered the first vaccine for feline panleucopenia.[4]

William McDowall Hammon
Born	1904 Columbus, Ohio
Died	September 19, 1989 Seminole, Florida
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Allegheny College Harvard Medical School
Known for	Polio vaccine pioneer,[1] Tropical diseases
Scientific career
Fields	Physician, virologist, and epidemiologist
Institutions	University of California, Berkeley University of Pittsburgh
Doctoral advisor	Hans Zinsser

Hammon was presented with the Medal of Freedom in 1946 by President Harry Truman.[5]

References

1. Fowler G (1989-09-23). "Dr. William Hammon Dies at 85; A Pioneer in Fight Against Polio". New York Times.
2. "Unsung Hero of the War on Polio" (PDF). University of Pittsburgh Public Health Magazine: –. 2004. Archived from the original (– ^{Scholar search}) on September 11, 2006.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
3. Rinaldo CR (2005). "Passive Immunization Against Poliomyelitis: The Hammon Gamma Globulin Field Trials, 1951–1953". American Journal of Public Health. 95 (5): 790–9. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2004.040790. PMC 1449257. PMID 15855454.
4. Enders JF, Hammon WM (1940). "Active and passive immunization against the virus of malignant pan leucopenia of cats". Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 48: 194–200. doi:10.3181/00379727-43-11141.
5. HiBeam Research

Further reading

• Spice B (2005-04-04). "Tireless polio research effort bears fruit and indignation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
• "G.G. Proves Itself". Time Magazine. 1952-11-03. Retrieved 2007-06-11.