Janet Woodcock

Janet Woodcock
Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs
In office
February 18, 2022 – February 1, 2024
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byAmy Abernethy
Succeeded byNamandjé Bumpus
Commissioner of Food and Drugs
Acting
In office
January 20, 2021 – February 17, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byStephen Hahn
Succeeded byRobert Califf
Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
In office
October 1, 2007 – April 12, 2021
Acting: October 1, 2007 – April 1, 2008
Preceded bySteven K. Galson
Succeeded byPatrizia Cavazzoni
In office
May 1994 – April 2004
Preceded byCarl Peck
Succeeded bySteven K. Galson
Personal details
Born (1948-08-29) August 29, 1948 (age 76)
Washington, Pennsylvania, U.S.
SpouseRoger Miller[1]
EducationBucknell University (BS)
Northwestern University (MD)
AwardsBiotechnology Heritage Award (2019)

Janet Woodcock (born August 29, 1948) is an American physician who served as Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs from February 2022 until February 2024, having previously served as Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[2] She joined the FDA in 1986, and has held a number of senior leadership positions there, including terms as the Director of Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) from 1994 to 2004 and 2007 to 2021.[3]

Woodcock has overseen the modernization and streamlining of CDER and FDA, introducing new initiatives to improve the timeliness and transparency of FDA procedures, and the safety, quality and effectiveness of drugs. She informs the United States Congress and other government bodies about the FDA and its concerns, helping to develop policy recommendations and legislation. In 2015, Woodcock received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in recognition of “a significant career history of making ongoing contributions to patient safety.”[4] She has also received the 2019 Biotechnology Heritage Award.[5]

  1. ^ Javers, Eamon (Mar 31, 2010). "Drug firm investigated FDA officials". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  2. ^ "FDA Alumni Association". U.S. Food and Drug Administration AlumnI Association. June 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Janet Woodcock". The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lifetime was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Science History Institute was invoked but never defined (see the help page).