William McDowell Hammon | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 4, 1904[1] |
| Died | September 19, 1989 (aged 85) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Alma mater | Allegheny College Harvard Medical School |
| Known for | Polio vaccine pioneer,[2] Tropical diseases |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physician, virologist, and epidemiologist |
| Institutions | University of California, Berkeley University of Pittsburgh |
| Doctoral advisor | Hans Zinsser |
William McDowell Hammon (July 4, 1904 – September 19, 1989) was an American physician and researcher, best known for his work on poliomyelitis.[3][4] 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.[2] Completing his medical training at Harvard Medical School in 1936,[2] 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.[4] During this period Hammon co-discovered the first vaccine for feline panleucopenia.[5]
Hammon was presented with the Medal of Freedom in 1946 by President Harry Truman.[6] In 1949 Harmon was elected president of the American Society for Microbiology.[1]
