Modernizing the FDA Workforce

A strategic priority identified by the FDA earlier this year is to strengthen the FDA’s scientific workforce by investing in the scientific and clinical expertise of its staff. To keep up with the complexity of modern devices and improve efficiency, the FDA is investing in enhancing the scientific and clinical expertise of its staff by:

• Assessing its hiring practices and procedures and modernizing the process for recruiting
• Retaining and supporting personnel
• Attracting scientific candidates with specialized skills and more competitive salaries
• Implementing a new realignment of the Agency’s field activities to better integrate and coordinate inspection staff and review staff
• Investing in employee development with its Device Program Training Officer
• Identifying subspecialty areas for training such as in vitro diagnostics, sterilization, electronics, reliability engineering, and more

One of the many goals is to provide learning opportunities to its device staff by partnering with industry to train, for example:

• AdvaMed – software lifecycle
• Medical Alley Association – combination products and software
• AAMI – sterilization course

The FDA continues to look for opportunities to partner with industry on training.