Frances Oldham Kelsey

Frances Oldham Kelsey
CM
Formal, black-and-white photo of Frances Oldham Kelsey, showing a middle-aged Caucasian woman with short dark hair
Born
Frances Kathleen Oldham

(1914-07-24)July 24, 1914
Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada
DiedAugust 7, 2015(2015-08-07) (aged 101)
London, Ontario, Canada
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • United States (from 1950s)
Alma mater
OccupationPharmacologist
Known forPreventing thalidomide from being marketed in the United States
Spouse
Fremont Ellis Kelsey
​
​
(m. 1943; died 1966)​
Children2
Medical career
FieldPhysician
AwardsPresident's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service (1962)

Frances Kathleen Oldham Kelsey CM (née Oldham; July 24, 1914 – August 7, 2015) was a Canadian-American[1] pharmacologist and physician. As a reviewer for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), she refused to authorize thalidomide for market because she had concerns about the lack of evidence regarding the drug's safety.[2] Her concerns proved to be justified when it was shown that thalidomide caused serious birth defects. Kelsey's career intersected with the passage of laws strengthening FDA oversight of pharmaceuticals. Kelsey was the second woman to receive the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, awarded to her by John F. Kennedy in 1962.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference nyt-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference globe2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).