Jacob Sheskin, sometimes written as Sheskin Jacob (Hebrew: יעקב שסקין; 1914 – April 17, 1999) was a Russian-born Israeli physician best known for his 1964 serendipitous discovery that thalidomide can be used as a treatment for leprosy at Hadassah University in Jerusalem.^[1]

Awards

• In 1975, the World Academy of Art and Science gave Sheskin a gold medal for his work.
• in 1997, he was named Yakir Yerushalayim (Hebrew: יַקִּיר יְרוּשָׁלַיִם), or "Worthy Citizen of Jerusalem".^[2]