The new acting FDA Chief of Staff will have more than a nodding familiarity with the regulatory concerns of America's pharmacists. She is Susan C. Winckler, RPh, Esq—an attorney-pharmacist who joined the FDA recently after serving as vice president for policy and communications and staff counsel for the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

In her position with the APhA, Winckler was responsible for coordinating the association's legislative, regulatory, and private sector advocacy agenda and public relations programs. In her new role at the FDA, she will coordinate staff activities in the Office of the Commissioner and serve as the principal liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services.

"Susan has taken a leadership role on important policy initiatives, such as the implementation of improvements to our Advisory Committee process," said Acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, MD. "She has a distinguished record of public health leadership and will bring her perspective as health care provider to the management challenges of this important post."