Trump Nominates White House Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA

The administration of President Donald Trump filled four senior positions at the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, promoting several officials who had been serving in acting roles to permanently fill the spots, including the agency’s top leaders for drugs and vaccines. The announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services gives the agency stability following months of controversy and upheaval.

Dr. Michael Davis was named to lead the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Davis previously worked in the FDA’s psychiatric drug division before returning to the agency. As the FDA’s top drug regulator, Davis will oversee the review of upcoming psychedelic drugs.

HHS also named Karim Mikhail to take over as director of FDA’s vaccines center on a permanent basis. Mikhail joined the FDA last spring after the resignation of Dr. Vinay Prasad.

Bret Koplow, an attorney and career FDA official, will become director of the Center for Tobacco Products. Jared Seehafer will serve in a newly created position overseeing artificial intelligence and technology.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is nominating Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House aide, to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Overton, currently the deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, is a medical doctor and has been involved in the Trump administration's health care agenda.