After serving at the helm of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for six years, Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, plans to step down at the end of March, according to a Reuters report.
Dr. Hamburg was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2009, making her the second woman to serve as the FDA commissioner.
During her tenure, Dr. Hamburg oversaw a variety of public health initiatives and issues including disease control, drug development and approvals, emergency contraceptives, food inspection and safety, personalized medicine and tobacco control.
FDA Chief Scientist Stephen Ostroff, MD, will serve as commissioner until a new appointee is named.
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