Bowman, Frances Willard, 1915-

Frances Willard (1915-) was born in Greenville, N.C. Her training included a B.S. from East Carolina College (1940), practical training at Garfield Hospital (1941), and graduate training in bacteriology at Catholic University (1948).

She directed the Soldiers' Home Hospital from 1942 until 1946, marrying Lt. Laurence W. Bowman, a dental surgeon stationed there, in 1943. She joined the Division of Antibiotics of the Food and Drug Administration in 1946. Mrs. Bowman served first as supervisor in the laboratory, testing antibiotics by the cup-plate method and in 1954 she was named supervisor in charge of the sterility testing of all antibiotics designed for injectables, opthalmic solutions, and surgical dressings. Mrs. Bowman's research while at the F.D.A. consisted of studies on the stability of various antibiotics and the development of assays for antibiotic testing.

Mrs. Bowman, who retired in 1972, is recognized internationally as one of the foremost authorities on sterility testing. Among her numerous awards are the 1957 Alumni Award from East Carolina College, the FDA Awards of Merit in 1966, and nomination for the Federal Woman's Award in 1969 and 1971.