Erwin Popper

Erwin Popper (9 December 1879 − 28 September 1955) was an Austrian physician, who, in 1909, along with Karl Landsteiner discovered the infectious character of poliomyelitis.¹

Popper wrote his doctoral thesis in Vienna in 1903 and then became a military surgeon with the artillery. From 1904 to 1905, he worked as a candidate and assistant physician at the Wiedner Hospital in Vienna, then moved to the Wilhelminenspital. In 1911, he became a resident doctor at the Allgemeine Poliklinik (outpatients clinic). From 1918 onwards, he worked as a paediatrician in Vienna and director of the pediatric ambulance of the Vienna Krankenkasse (statutory medical insurance company). In 1938, he emigrated to England and held jobs as a Medical Officer in children’s homes until 1942. Subsequently, he worked as a Resident Medical Officer in Cheshire until 1945.