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How one scientist averted a national health crisis - Andrea Tone

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TEDEd Animation

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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?

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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

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