Introducing Dr Stephen Hahn, the FDA's new Commissioner

By Dr Nicola Davies

The US Food and Drug Administration has started 2020 under the leadership of Dr Stephen Hahn, their new Commissioner. Dr Hahn’s role was confirmed by the US Senate with a 72-18 vote on December 12, 2019.1

Dr Hahn was sworn in as the 24th FDA Commissioner on December 17, 2019.2 He has become the fourth FDA Commissioner in less than a year, replacing Acting Commissioner, Brett Giroir. He is the first permanent commissioner that has been appointed since Dr Scott Gottlieb’s unexpected resignation in April 2019. Prior to Brett Giroir’s reign, Norman Sharpless also served as an interim commissioner from April to November 2019.