Written by I. Edwards
Dr. Marty Makary had just finished his last surgery at Johns Hopkins when he stepped into one of the most powerful roles in American public health.
Now, as the new commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), he’s wasting no time charting a new course for the agency.
In an exclusive interview with physician and writer Dr. Jeremy Faust on Substack, Makary opened up about his first weeks on the job, his vision for the future, and why he believes the FDA doesn’t need a full overhaul to deliver faster and more trustworthy guidance and oversight.
“There will not be a reorganization,” Makary said in the interview. Instead, he wants to focus on simple reforms, like removing synthetic dyes from the food supply, using more modern technology and keeping science independent from industry.
Makary also shared concerns about how long it takes new medications to come to market.
He questioned outdated systems that slow the approval of medical artificial intelligence (AI) and allow for lower inspection standards for foreign drug makers.
“My belief is that the FDA can modernize if we challenge deeply held assumptions and traditional ways of doing things,” Makary explained.
