Activism > Public Health Archives - Page 10 of 23

Imogene Gollinger

In August, 1965, FDA’s Food and Drug Review announced that the agency had hired its first “woman” inspector, Mrs. Imogene Gollinger.

After being nominated as the first female Commissioner of FDA by President Bill Clinton, she became the first FDA Commissioner to go through the grueling Senate confirmation process in 1999. Supporters of the nomination maintained that given both her medical acumen and administrative talent and experience, she was the most qualified Commissioner FDA had ever had.

Mary Engle Pennington

Mary Engle Pennington became FDA’s first female lab chief under Harvey Wiley following passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act. Her bacteriological research helped revolutionize the food supply, making more safe, fresh foods available at affordable prices, particularly in newly industrialized areas of the country.

Dr Marion J Finkel

Her work on the regulation of generic drugs and products for rare diseases helped make valuable treatments more available.

Dr Mattie Rae Spivey Fox

Dr. Mattie Rae Spivey Fox made substantial contributions to the field of trace nutrient investigations and the work of the FDA in regulating food, and thereby advanced the health and well-being of the public.

Dr Vera Scantlebury Brown

Australian doctor; director of the Victorian Health Department’s section of infant welfare 1926-1946. She wrote books on the care of infants and young children and her 1937 report for the National Health and Medical Research Council prompted government funding of the Lady Gowrie Child Centres.

Samia Baho

Samia Baho has made an outstanding contribution to addressing the various barriers to ensure appropriate services are available for African women in Victoria, Australia.

Dr Misty Jenkins

Dr Jenkins is a woman of Gunditjama descent and an advocate for gender equity, Aboriginal health and education.

Karen Silkwood

Silkwood was a chemical technician at the Kerr-McGee’s plutonium fuels production plant in Crescent, Oklahoma, and a member of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers’ Union. She was also an activist who was critical of plant safety and her suspicious death remains unsolved.