WASHINGTON — It may be one of the shortest tenures in FDA history. Dr. Robert Califf, who took office as FDA commissioner last February, is preparing to vacate the premises. Like other presidential appointees, Califf must resign effective Jan. 20th, Inauguration Day.
In the absence of a new FDA chief, Dr. Stephen Ostroff, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, will again become acting commissioner. It’s a role he’s familiar with; he also served as acting commissioner from April 2015 to last February, when Califf was sworn in.
