FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, to Step Down

February 5, 2015—The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, announced plans to step down from her post. In an open letter to her FDA colleagues posted on the agency’s website, Dr. Hamburg advised that that she will end her 6-year tenure at the end of March 2015. She also stated that the FDA’s Chief Scientist, Stephen Ostroff, MD, has agreed to serve as Acting Commissioner upon her resignation. Dr. Ostroff joined the agency in 2013.

In the letter, Dr. Hamburg commented, “As hard as it is to leave this agency, I am confident that the leadership team that we have in place will enable FDA to capitalize on, and improve upon, the significant advances we’ve made over the last few years. Many of these leaders have been with the FDA throughout my tenure, and I am proud to say that we’ve recently made some wonderful new additions.”

In reporting the news, Reuters noted that Dr. Hamburg, who was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2009, is one of the longest-serving commissioners at the agency. Also, Dr. Hamburg stated that her decision was prompted by the heavy demands of the job and the sheer length of time she has held the position. She commented to Reuters, “This is a very challenging job full of opportunities to make a huge and enduring difference, but it is 24/7 and there are really, really difficult decisions to make.”

According to Reuters, a spokesman for the White House, Josh Earnest, advised that President Obama’s nomination to replace Hamburg would have impeccable scientific credentials and merit bipartisan support. The nominee must be confirmed by the US Senate.

Reuters reported that a possible permanent successor could be Robert Califf, MD, of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, whom Dr. Hamburg recently selected as her deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco. The FDA announced Dr. Califf’s appointment on January 26.