FDA Trending News

FDA News Update: Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H., Sworn in as FDA Commissioner

Apr 10, 2025

For Immediate Release:

Renowned surgeon-scientist and health policy expert, Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H., took the oath of office to become the 27th Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Dr. Makary was confirmed by a bipartisan vote of the U.S. Senate.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Makary to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “He is a national leader in medicine with impeccable credentials. His extensive research, clinical experience, and national leadership make him uniquely qualified to lead the FDA as we work together to Make America Healthy Again.”

Dr. Makary’s accomplishments as a researcher, clinician and prolific author are numerous. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles in medical literature and founded the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Trials and Outcomes Research. Dr. Makary has led cross-disciplinary research on a range of subjects including cancer care, obesity, frailty and psychologic reserve in older patients, adverse event monitoring, the Orphan Drug Act, antimicrobial resistance, and Alzheimer’s. Of note, he is the co-developer of the Surgery Checklist used in many operating rooms around the world today. A member of the prestigious National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Makary has been a visiting professor at more than 25 medical schools across the U.S. and internationally.

“I am honored and humbled to assume this role at the FDA under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Kennedy,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “I look forward to working with this Administration and the FDA workforce to advance our shared goals in meeting the agency’s public health mission. As Commissioner, I hope to ensure that the FDA holds to the gold standard of trusted science, transparency, and common sense so that we can Make America Healthy Again.”

Dr. Makary is a graduate of Bucknell University, Thomas Jefferson University, and the Harvard School of Public Health. He completed his residency at Georgetown University and surgical oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. After six years on the faculty at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Makary was named an endowed chair in gastrointestinal surgery and subsequently promoted to full professor with tenure. He has held joint appointments at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

Related Information

Related Information

Reported by

Reviewed by

You May Also Like

Could a New Discovery Prevent Muscle Loss and Weakness as We Age?

Could a New Discovery Prevent Muscle Loss and Weakness as We Age?

,

Muscle weakness is one of the biggest challenges of aging. As people get older, they naturally lose muscle strength and muscle mass, a condition known as sarcopenia. This can make everyday activities like climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or getting up from a chair much more difficult. While exercise and good nutrition remain the best ways to slow muscle loss, researchers are searching for new treatments that target the underlying causes of age-related muscle weakness.

Could Glucosamine Supplements Worsen Alzheimer’s Disease? Here’s What Researchers Found

Could Glucosamine Supplements Worsen Alzheimer’s Disease? Here’s What Researchers Found

, ,

Many people take glucosamine supplements every day to help support their joints. It has been used for years and is one of the most popular supplements for osteoarthritis. However, a new study is raising questions about whether glucosamine could affect brain health in people with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment.

The Facts on Tampons and Tampon Safety

The Facts on Tampons and Tampon Safety

,

Tampons are absorbent products that you insert into your vagina to soak up menstrual flow during your period. Tampons come in different absorbency levels — like light, regular, and super — so you can pick the right one for your flow. Some have a plastic or cardboard applicator to help with insertion, and others are inserted with your finger.