Washington, DC ― The United States Senate on February 24 confirmed President Barack Obama's nominee, Dr. Robert Califf, to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Senate voted 89-4 to confirm Dr. Califf after one Republican and three Democratic Senators had delayed action in a protest over the agency's inaction on the abuse of opioid painkillers.
With only a year left in Obama's presidency, Dr. Califf is tasked with wrapping up the administration's initiatives at the agency, including unfinished tobacco regulations and food safety and labeling reforms.
The Senate voted 89-4 to confirm Dr. Califf after one Republican and three Democratic Senators had delayed action in a protest over the agency's inaction on the abuse of opioid painkillers.
With only a year left in Obama's presidency, Dr. Califf is tasked with wrapping up the administration's initiatives at the agency, including unfinished tobacco regulations and food safety and labeling reforms.
President Obama nominated Califf on September 16, 2015, following the resignation of Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, who left the FDA in March 2016 after a six-year tenure marked by a wave of new drug approvals, as well as legislation to overhaul the nation's food safety system and begin regulating tobacco products for the first time.
Dr. Califf joined the FDA in March 2015, serving as Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco.
Prior to that, Dr. Califf served in various capacities at Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke University Medical Center between 1982 and 2015. At Duke University School of Medicine, he served as Vice Chancellor, Director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute, which he founded in 2006, and as Professor of Medicine.
He also served as the Director of the Cardiac Care Unit at the Duke University Medical Center. He founded the Duke University Clinical Research Institute in 2006 and served as its Director. Dr. Califf also served on the Executive Committee of the Duke Health System.
He has served in a number professional organizations, including committees of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM), the IOM Clinical Research Roundtable, the IOM Committee on Medication Errors, and the IOM Board on Health Sciences Policy.
He served on the FDA’s Cardio renal Advisory Committee from 1996 to 2000 and on the FDA’s Science Board Working Group from 2007 to 2008.
Dr. Califf received a B.S. and an M.D. from Duke University.
Dr. Califf joined the FDA in March 2015, serving as Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco.
Prior to that, Dr. Califf served in various capacities at Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke University Medical Center between 1982 and 2015. At Duke University School of Medicine, he served as Vice Chancellor, Director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute, which he founded in 2006, and as Professor of Medicine.
He also served as the Director of the Cardiac Care Unit at the Duke University Medical Center. He founded the Duke University Clinical Research Institute in 2006 and served as its Director. Dr. Califf also served on the Executive Committee of the Duke Health System.
He has served in a number professional organizations, including committees of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM), the IOM Clinical Research Roundtable, the IOM Committee on Medication Errors, and the IOM Board on Health Sciences Policy.
He served on the FDA’s Cardio renal Advisory Committee from 1996 to 2000 and on the FDA’s Science Board Working Group from 2007 to 2008.
Dr. Califf received a B.S. and an M.D. from Duke University.
