White House Looking at 3 Possible FDA Commissioners: Reports

Referencing original reporting from the online health newsletter Stat, MSN says the White House is considering a final list of three contenders to be FDA commissioner — White House adviser Heidi Overton, oncologist and health system executive Jeffrey Vacirca, and Defense Department health affairs official Stephen Ferrara. The report says the finalists are being considered alongside other people who could potentially work with them to lead FDA. Stat said such a team approach to leadership would ensure the next commissioner would be surrounded by a balanced team.

The new commissioner would replace Marty Makary, who resigned following a tumultuous tenure that led to complaints from regulated industries.

Stat reportedly previously said that a group within HHS had become unhappy with Makary’s leadership and had spent months looking for a way to remove him.