Tobacco, Patent Medicine, and Genetically Engineered Animals: SPS '15 Visits the Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Today the St. Albans School of Public Service class of 2015 visited the Food & Drug Administration ("FDA"), the federal agency charged with assuring the safety and effectiveness of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and the food supply.  During our day at the FDA, we received an overview of the FDA's role, mission and functions; learned about tobacco regulation and health communication campaigns; heard about the FDA's role in regulating everything from novel medical devices to proposals for genetically engineered animals; and learned about current issues in drug development, from research budgets to the design of trials.  Our students were uniformly impressed by the dedicated professionals at the FDA and the cutting edge work they are doing, and appreciated the opportunity to get a chance to meet with these public servants and hear first-hand about their work.