Frances Oldham Kelsey

Frances Oldham Kelsey was a Canadian-American pharmacologist and FDA reviewer who is best known for her role in preventing the approval of thalidomide in the United States during the 1960s. Thalidomide was a medication linked to severe birth defects. Her careful review and insistence on additional evidence delayed approval, ultimately protecting thousands of babies from birth injuries. Her diligent work is credited with helping to prevent a global health disaster and established her as a key figure in drug safety and regulation.