New FDA Commissioner Nominated

President Bush has nominated Mark B. McClellan, md, phd, who has held senior positions in both the Clinton and current Bush Administrations, as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. McClellan will assume a major health post that has remained vacant since the resignation of Jane E. Henney, md, in January 2001.

Dr. McClellan, a physician and economist, is currently amember of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, on which he has servedsince July 2001. He joined the Bush Administration from Stanford University,where he was associate professor of both economics and medicine, and attendingphysician at Stanford Health Services. From 1998 to 1999, he was deputyassistant secretary of the treasury for economic policy, and he previouslyserved on the Institute of Medicine’s National Cancer Policy Board.

"Dr. McClellan has a strong background in medicine,science, public policy, and economics. This experience would serve him well atthe FDA as it continues its efforts to create a more responsive FDA," saidSecretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson.

Filling the top FDA job has been a politically contentiousissue in Washington. Dr. McClellan fulfills one requirement that Sen. Edward M.Kennedy (D-Mass), who chairs the Senate committee that will hold hearings on Dr.McClellan’s nomination, has insisted on—that the new commissioner had notworked in the pharmaceutical industry.

"Dr. McClellan has impressive credentials both as a physician andeconomist," said Sen. Kennedy. "I look forward to learning more abouthis views on issues critical to the FDA."