Skip to main content

How one scientist averted a national health crisis - Andrea Tone

1,915,185 Views

4,724 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

In 1960, Frances Kelsey was one of the Food and Drug Administration’s newest recruits. Before the year was out, she would begin a fight that would save thousands of lives — though no one knew it at the time. Andrea Tone explains how Kelsey was able to prevent a massive national public health tragedy by privileging facts over opinions, and patience over shortcuts.

Why did Frances Kelsey reject Merrell’s application?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Andrea Tone
  • Director Lisa LaBracio
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
  • Designer Lisa LaBracio
  • Animator Sara Zarul Azham
  • Composer M. Tomihisa
  • Sound Designer Weston Fonger
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Francisco Diez

More from The World's People and Places