The following is a note from the FDA Commissioner to the FDA Team...
Dear Colleagues:
It is hard for me to write this note to share with you the news that I’ll be leaving my job as the Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the next month. There’s perhaps nothing that could pull me away from this role other than the challenge of being apart from my family for these past two years and missing my wife and three young children.
This is a very special institution, and the work that binds us in a shared mission is inspiring. I know that the opportunity to serve in this role was a privilege, and an endeavor that I’ll never be able to replicate in my professional life -- the impact of our public health work, the camaraderie, and our ability to improve the lives of Americans. There are many important efforts we undertook together, countless new policies we advanced, and laws we enforced with vigor to protect consumers. Over the coming weeks I’ll continue to work to cement more of these efforts, to secure our 2020 budget, and to help transition the agency to new leadership. I’ll be working closely with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, who is a friend to me and a staunch advocate for the agency. He is deeply committed to our public health mission.
I’ll depart knowing that the FDA is strong, its people outstanding, and its mission well recognized and deeply respected across the government, and indeed, across the world. I hope to have the opportunity to continue to work with you to advance our goals in the weeks before I depart. I’m grateful for the support of the people of the FDA. I’m thankful for the support of my family, and for their sacrifice over the past two years.
I consider myself truly fortunate to have had the chance to help lead this remarkable institution.
Sincerely,
Dr. Scott Gottlieb
Commissioner of Food and Drugs