Dr Jim Sinnott: The Last Polio Cases

The last outbreak of polio in the United States occurred in 1979, when a type 1 strain imported from the Netherlands caused 13 paralytic cases among unvaccinated Amish communities in three states. The outbreak in Lancaster County, Pennsyvania led to more than 150,000 county residents being inoculated.

Dr. James Sinnott was a third year medical student in August 1979 when two teenage Amish girls arrived, suffering from polio.

Jim joined Rotary in 1984.  Years later, attending a President Elects Training Seminar, he listened to a past Rotary International President speaking about the last two cases of polio.  Jim realized that the past RI President was discussing the two girls that he met in 1979, and that he was the treating physician for the last two cases of endemic polio in North America.

Jim has been married to Suzy since 1970 and they have 3 adult children and one granddaughter.

Jim served in the United States Air Force 1971-1975 with service in 4 foreign countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Netherlands and Texas.  He had a long medical career, ending up in Oregon, where he was named the Family Practice Doctor of the Year in 1998

Jim is an advocate for Polio Plus, including taking part in polio vaccinations as part of a National Immunization Day trip to India. 

Jim adds that he has “TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN WHAT ROTARY HAS DONE IN THIS AREA!!!!!”