FDA Chief Scientist Jesse Goodman to Representative Rosa DeLauro (D/CT and Chairwoman of the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee), "I think what FDA really needs is a 5- to 10-year building effort/re-building effort. And it's not just rebuilding to what was. I think it's being a part of building the science of the future."
Bravo. By all means. Rather than look backwards to “the good old days” (whatever that means) let’s improve and move forward. It’s not rocket science – but it’s good to hear the agency’s Chief Scientist say it.
And change starts from within. According to Goodman, "What I want to do is begin to use the resources we have and the leadership we have to encourage and identify and free-up some of the time of our promising junior and mid-level people to beef up their education. Because if we just do it as leaders of the center or agencies, that doesn't have all the transformational power."
Absolutely right. When I served at the FDA (along with Jesse), one of the most valuable lessons I learned was that dictates from “on high” don’t get the job done. Real change happens because all levels of the agency understand and embrace the philosophy of those changes. Change may begin at the top – but success or failure is determined by the agency’s 11,000+ career professionals.
Change is never easy but, as W. Edwards Deming commented, "Change is not required. Survival is not mandatory."
Goodman: “"It's very challenging. It's almost like taking the current state of the agency from sort of always swimming to keep our heads just above the water to something that is a truly outstanding scientific partner and really has the power and relationships it needs. And by power I don't mean power over people, but the mental and scientific tools to have the ability to make decisions. So it's a process and it's going to take a while and we need to get the best and the brightest."
Now maybe Representative DeLauro will finally embrace the Reagan/Udall Foundation.
