In 1993, she became the third woman to be elected elected president of ACS. As president, Free’s top priority was to raise public awareness of the positive role chemistry has played in our lives. ACS instituted an award in her honor in 1995: the Helen M. Free Award in Public Outreach.  Helen became a champion for science education and outreach, chairing the National Chemistry Week task force of the ACS for five years. She received the ACS’s Garvan Medal, honoring distinguished service to chemistry by a woman, in 1980.She is most known for revolutionizing many in vitro self-testing systems for diabetes and other diseases while working at Miles Laboratories. The tests are still marketed today with blood tests as Ascensia Diabetes Care, and urine tests under Siemens Healthineers. The pioneering dip-and-read strips, allowed for testing to be more convenient and efficient, enabling doctors and patients to be less reliable to laboratories for results.  She was an inspiration to many women and to men as well.  This presentation will feature personal interactions with Helen and how she inspired me to run for President of the ACS.

Helen Free: Scientist, leader, humanitarian, and friend

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.