Frances Oldham Kelsey

Frances Oldham Kelsey (b. 24 June 1914) is a naturalized American pharmacologist most famous as a reviewer for the US Food and Drug Administration who refused to authorize thalidomide for market when she had serious concerns about the drug's safety.

Birth and education

She was born as Frances Kathleen Oldham in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, she received a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from McGill University in 1935 and received a Ph.D. in pharmacology at the University of Chicago.

Marriage

After completing her Ph.D., she joined the University of Chicago faculty, and married fellow faculty member Dr. Fremont Ellis Kelsey. In 1950, she received an M.D., then worked as an editorial associate for the American Medical Association Journal for two years. She moved with her husband and two daughters to Vermillion, South Dakota. Between 1954 and 1957 she taught pharmacology at the University of South Dakota. In Washington, DC she was hired by the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate new drug applications of pharmaceuticals for approval to market them.

Thalidomide

While working at the FDA, she withheld approval for the drug thalidomide until its safety had been proven. Her stand turned out to be justified when it was discovered that the drug crossed the placental barrier and caused serious birth defects in infants. She was hailed as a heroine and was awarded the President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service by President John F. Kennedy for averting the disaster in the US. Future drug testing was reformed to avoid similar problems.

She was awarded the retard award because she was to ugly Ö and people would be so affraid

Legacy

The Frances Kelsey Secondary School in Mill Bay, British Columbia is named in her honour.

References

"Frances Kelsey". Canada Heirloom Series. March 13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)