The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has named Bernadette Dunham, DVM, Ph.D., as its new director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). CVM regulates the manufacture and distribution of food additives and drugs that will be given to animals.
She succeeds Stephen Sundlof, DVM, Ph.D., who has moved to director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, which protects the public’s health by ensuring that the nation’s food supply is safe, sanitary, wholesome, and honestly labeled, and that cosmetic products are safe and properly labeled.
Dr. Dunham previously served as deputy director of the CVM and worked in coordinating and establishing policy in research, management, scientific evaluation, compliance and surveillance. She was also the director for CVM’s Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development, the office that oversees drug development for minor species, such as zoo animals, ornamental fish, parrots, ferrets, guinea pigs, sheep, goats, catfish, and honeybees. The office also oversees drug development for uncommon diseases in major species, such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, chicken, and turkeys.
Drs. Dunham and Sundlof will report directly to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D.