Dr. Scott Gottlieb, FDA Commissioner
Before his May 10 confirmation as FDA commissioner, Gottlieb was a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a clinical assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine in Manhattan. Gottlieb isn’t a stranger at FDA; he was as deputy commissioner at the agency during the George W. Bush administration.
During the confirmation process, some Democrats expressed concerns that Gottlieb has been too cozy with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Though a more traditional choice, Gottlieb is “still expected to push the boundaries of FDA reviews and using new authority under the 21st Century Cures Act to speed up evaluations,” according to Politico.
In his first remarks to FDA staff, Gottlieb reassured them of his commitment to the agency’s mission: “A lot of people know what we do. Not as many people know why we do it. But I know why. And, I know you all know why. It’s because Americans need us. They need to be safe. They need to have medicines and products that work. They need to have opportunities to improve their health.”