Rivers, Thomas Milton

Rivers, Thomas Milton (1888–1962) virologist; born in Jonesboro, Ga. After graduating from Johns Hopkins Medical School (1915), with which he remained affiliated until 1919, he headed the infectious disease ward at Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (1922–37), becoming the institute's director (1937–56). After retiring he remained active with the Rockefeller Foundation (1956–62). His work in the 1930s and 1940s contributed to making the institute a leader in viral research. As chairman of committees on research and vaccine advisory for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, he oversaw the clinical trials of Jonas Salk's vaccine. He served in the armed forces medical corps during both World Wars and edited Viral and Rickettsial Infections of Man (1948).