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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

About FDA

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Meet Virginia A. Cox, J.D., Associate Commissioner for External Affairs

Virginia Cox

Virginia A. Cox, J.D., joined the FDA in September 2011 as the Associate Commissioner for External Affairs, a position that involves leadership, coordination and oversight of a wide range of FDA activities affecting the nation’s awareness of the agency’s efforts to protect and promote the public health.

In her role, Ms. Cox:

  • advises the Commissioner and other key agency officials on FDA's communication to the media, Congress, health professionals, patient advocates, consumer groups, industry and the general public on issues that affect agency-wide programs, projects, strategies, partnerships and initiatives;
  • advises and assists the Commissioner and other key FDA officials on all public information programs; acts as the focal point for disseminating news on FDA activities; and serves as a liaison with the Public Health Service and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on public information programs;

  • advises the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and other senior staff throughout FDA on sensitive and controversial programs and initiatives that affect external stakeholder groups;
  • serves as liaison between FDA and health professional and patient advocacy organizations to solve problems and address concerns these groups may have with agency policies and programs related to development, safety and effectiveness of medical and other regulated products;
  • coordinates and implements policies, programs and initiatives related to FDA’s MedWatch, including the MedWatch website and e-list.

Ms. Cox is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and received her law degree from the Georgetown University School of Law.  She is a member of the Maryland Bar. Throughout her extensive career, much of which has been dedicated to public service, Ms. Cox has led nationwide, strategic communications initiatives and developed important and award-winning public health campaigns.

During the 1990s, she served as a special assistant to the HHS Secretary and as the FDA Commissioner’s director of outreach and strategic initiatives. Later, she was senior vice president for communications and strategic initiatives at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and served as a partner at 3D Communications, where she spearheaded major outreach initiatives and communications training for clients. In addition, she was a senior partner in a San Francisco-based management consulting firm with responsibilities for marketing, business development and public and government relations.

Ms. Cox also  held senior positions in major state-wide and national presidential campaigns, and wrote a chapter titled “Food and Drug Administration: Protecting Public Health Through Science” in the book Change for America which was prepared for President Obama's transition to the White House.

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