The Women Who Stopped the Drugs: The Birth of Modern Drug Safety


ID : 2332   

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ClassGraphic The FDA had very little regulatory oversight until the 1930s, a trajectory fundamentally altered by pivotal interventions from women scientists. In 1937, a lethal "strep throat" elixir claimed 100 lives, mostly children. A graduate student exposed the toxin, sparking the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Decades later, that same woman—Frances Oldham Kelsey—blocked the approval of thalidomide at the FDA, averting a national tragedy. Inspired by Kelsey, Alma Hayden in 1963 unmasked a cancer drug fraud, Krebiozen. The scientific rigor of these exceptional women not only prevented harm but also catalyzed enduring regulations at the FDA. They weren't expected to hold such power, yet their resolve helped develop the evidence-based standards we rely on today by regulations and by individuals who chose to act when it mattered most.
 
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Class Details

1 Session(s)
Fri

Location
OLLI

Instructor
John McLane 

Tuition:  $15.00

Registration Closes On
Thursday, October 22, 2026 @ 12:00 AM

Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s) Instructional Method
10/23/2026 Fri 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Kingston, OLLI  Map John McLane  ClassRoom

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