The agency just issued a press release saying Janet Woodcock, the deputy commish and an internist and rheumatologist by training, is now overseeing the newly created Office of the Chief Medical Officer. The press release hasn’t been posted on the FDA web site, but here’s an excerpt:

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer will oversee scientific and planning-related operations for FDA. In this capacity, Dr. Woodcock shares responsibility and collaboration with the Commissioner of FDA in planning, organizing, directing, staffing, coordinating, controlling, and evaluating the agency’s scientific and medical regulatory activities in order to achieve the mission of FDA.

“FDA is a science-based agency and science-led Agency; science provides the foundation for our regulatory decisions and the work we do on a daily basis to promote and protect the nations’ health,” said Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, the FDA commissioner. “Creation of this office, and position, will better ensure we achieve this mission with the highest scientific quality and effectiveness needed.”

At the same time, John Dyer was named deputy commissioner for operations and chief operating officer. Dyer was most recently chief operating officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

[tags]FDA[/tags]