Frances Oldham Kelsey

Frances Oldham Kelsey (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.

That stand turned out to be more than justified when it was discovered that the drug penetrated the placenta and caused serious birth defects in infants.

Dr. Kelsey was hailed as a hero and was awarded, President John F. Kennedy, the President’s Award Distinguished Federal Civilian Service medal for averting the disaster in the US. Furthermore, drug testing was reformed to avoid similar problems.

Born 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.

In 2000 she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

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

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