Dunham takes key post at FDA

ROCKVILLE, MD.— Dr. Bernadette Dunham was named director of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Bernadette Dunham

Ranking as the first woman to hold the post, Dunham succeeds Stephen F. Sundlof, DVM, PhD, who moved into the position of director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Both Dunham and Sundlof will report to FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach.

Sundlof held the CVM directorship more than a decade. Dunham previously served as its deputy director.

"It is more important than ever that the American public feel confident in the safety of the food they eat and feed their loved ones," von Eschenbach said in a prepared statement. "Drs. Sundlof and Dunham are world-class scientists and leaders, with the dedication, vision and expertise needed to tackle challenges and enhance the science involved in assuring the safety and nutritional value of something so vital to a healthy life; namely our food."

Dunham joined the CVM in 2006. While serving as deputy director, she led CVM's Office of Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Drug Development, which oversees drug development for species such as zoo animals, ornamental fish, parrots, ferrets, guinea pigs, sheep, goats, catfish and honeybees. That office oversees drug development for uncommon diseases in major species, such as cattle, pigs, chicken, turkeys, horses, dogs and cats.

Before joining FDA in 2002, Dunham served in several leadership positions with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and held faculty positions at several universities, including at the Department of Pharmacology at the State University of New York Health Science Center (SUNY-HSC) at Syracuse. She also was acting director of laboratory animal medicine there.