The United States Senate has voted to confirm Robert Califf, MD, a practicing cardiologist and professor of cardiology at the Duke University School of Medicine, as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The 50-46 vote was uncharacteristically close, with six Republicans supporting Califf’s confirmation and five Democrats opposing it. There were consistent concerns about Califf’s close ties to the pharmaceutical industry and his stance on patient access to abortion medications. In the end, however, President Joe Biden’s choice made it through the confirmation process and will go on to lead the FDA.
“Dr. Robert Califf is one of the most experienced clinical trialists in the country and has the experience and expertise to lead the FDA during a critical time in our nation’s fight to put an end to the coronavirus pandemic,” Biden said in a statement when his choice of Califf was made official. “As the FDA considers many consequential decisions around vaccine approvals and more, it is mission critical that we have a steady, independent hand to guide the FDA. I am confident Dr. Califf will ensure that the FDA continues its science and data driven decision-making.”
Califf, of course, is no stranger to this role. He briefly served as FDA commissioner under President Barack Obama in 2016. It was reported at the time that prominent cardiologists hoped he would stay in the role under President Donald Trump, but that did not happen.
The American Heart Association (AHA) welcomed Califf’s confirmation in a new statement, describing him as a “relentless force in the fight against heart disease and stroke.”
“With a distinguished career in public service and a long-time volunteer leader at the AHA, Dr. Califf has honed his ability to communicate and build trust with diverse constituencies,” the organization said. “He will use his experience as a cardiologist to safeguard the health and well-being of people throughout the country, and his background in research to prioritize science and evidence-based policymaking. His previous leadership of the FDA will enable him to hit the ground running and ensure the agency can meet the current public health threats.”
Further highlighting the high level of support for Califf among cardiologists, the AHA, American College of Cardiology and Association of Black Cardiologists issued a joint statement in support of Califf’s nomination on Feb. 10.
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Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.