The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to confirm Dr. Robert Califf as head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency that regulates everything from food and drugs to tobacco, cosmetics and dietary supplements.
Califf, 64, a cardiologist and researcher, takes the helm at the FDA when lawmakers are pressuring it to speed the approval process for drugs and medical devices and to finalize a proposed rule giving it authority to regulate e-cigarettes.
He said one of his first priorities is to strengthen the workforce by reaching out to academic and other centers to attract new talent and create professional "homes" for scientists who work at the FDA.
For example, he said in an interview, "we've been working to create a coordinated effort to have all our statisticians have an identity and support services that they need."
"For docs like me," he added, that might mean help with administrative matters such as keeping medical licenses up to date.
Another priority for Califf is improving surveillance systems to monitor for safety.
"We're not proposing to do away with the adverse event reporting system that currently exists," he said, "but we are acutely aware that it is not enough."
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