President Trump announced his intention to nominate radiation oncologist Stephen Hahn, MD, to serve as the next FDA Commissioner on Friday.
Hahn, 59, is currently the chief medical officer at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and specializes in lung cancer and sarcoma. He went to medical school at Temple University in Philadelphia, was a senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) from 1989 to 1996 following his residency there, and served as Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania from 2005 to 2014.
On Twitter, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar called Hahn a “talented, experienced leader whose scientific accomplishments make him well prepared to lead FDA in its vital public health mission.”
In a surprise, acting FDA Commissioner Norman “Ned” Sharpless — who had been serving since Scott Gottlieb resigned last year — will return to his post as NCI director immediately, according to reporting from the Washington Post.
“I look forward to having him back at NCI, where he can continue the important work he has led on administration priorities, such as pediatric cancer, rural cancer care, and precision medicine,” Azar in a statement.
Sharpless garnered broad support from dozens of cancer and other medical groups to lead the FDA permanently, but his term officially expired on Friday and, under federal rules, he cannot stay on any longer in the acting capacity.
Instead, Adm. Brett Giroir, MD, Azar’s deputy for health at HHS, will oversee the agency until Hahn’s confirmation.
In a statement, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) expressed their “strong support” for the nomination of Hahn, who served on the society’s board of directors from 2014 to 2018.
“During his tenure on the ASTRO Board, Dr. Hahn always brought insightful questions to our deliberations. He takes the time to listen to all sides before he reaches a decision, which will be important in this new role,” said ASTRO’s CEO Laura Thevenot. “His depth of knowledge will allow him to accomplish the many tasks ahead as FDA Commissioner.”
These tasks are varied, but at center is the controversy over banning e-cigarette flavors amid a backdrop of sharp increases in youth vaping and a mysterious vaping-associated lung illness that has killed dozens and affected close to 2,000 individuals in total. The Trump administration announced plans to ban all flavors of tobacco products in September, but has not issued its final policy.
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
