A Scientific Symposium Commemorating
the 50th Anniversary of the Development of
the Polio Vaccine
April 11 and 12, 2005
Alumni Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Polio Symposium
Speakers
- Matthias Gromeier, M.D.
- William Gruber, M.D.
- David L. Heymann, M.D.
- Robert A. Keegan
- Heidi J. Larson, Ph.D.
- Gary J. Nabel, M.D., Ph.D.
- Paul A. Offit, M.D.
- David M. Oshinsky, Ph.D.
- Tara O’Toole, M.D., M.P.H.
- Louis Piconi
- Charles R. Rinaldo Jr., Ph.D.
- John B. Robbins, M.D.
- Peter L. Salk, M.D.
- John Troan
- Julius S. Youngner, Sc.D.
John Troan
Retired Reporter and Editor
The Pittsburgh Press
As a young reporter for The Pittsburgh Press, Mr. Troan, who later served as the newspaper’s editor, chronicled major steps in the development of the Salk polio vaccine, including the April 12, 1955, announcement of its success, which ran under the headline: “Polio Is Conquered.” He later recalled it as the “most satisfying headline of my reportorial career.” In his career memoir, Passport to Adventure, Mr. Troan recounted that, in search of a good story one day, he was encouraged to talk to “that young whiz... brought in from Michigan to set up a virus research lab.” Thus began his dealings with Dr. Jonas Salk, who was still working on an experimental flu vaccine at the time. Salk’s focus soon changed to polio, and the news story that unfolded turned out to be one of the best that any reporter could ever hope to cover.