The Senate on Feb. 15 voted 50-46 to confirm Robert M. Califf, MD, MACC, as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ACC, along with the American Heart Association (AHA) and Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), supported Califf’s nomination.

The Biden administration in November announced its intention to nominate Califf to lead the FDA. The ACC in December submitted a letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) in support of Califf’s nomination. The HELP Committee approved the nomination in January. The ACC, AHA and ABC on Feb. 10 issued a statement, expressing support for Califf’s nomination and urging the Senate to confirm him.

Califf previously served as FDA commissioner from February 2016 through Jan. 20, 2017, during the Obama administration. Califf is currently a professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine, where he previously served as vice chancellor of clinical and translational research and founder of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. In addition, he is currently head of clinical policy at Verily Life Science, a life sciences research organization. Previously, Califf was the FDA deputy commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco.

“Dr. Califf is an accomplished cardiologist, researcher and clinical trials expert who has been a driving force in the fight against heart disease and stroke throughout his career. His extensive experience, combined with his previous leadership of the FDA, will be invaluable as the agency continues to tackle a formidable set of public health challenges,” ACC President Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, FACC; AHA President Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, FACC; and ABC President Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH, FACC, said in the Feb. 10 statement.

Keywords: ACC Advocacy, Stroke, Biological Science Disciplines, Heart Diseases, Health Education, American Heart Association, Public Health, United States Food and Drug Administration, Tobacco, Cardiologists

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