HHS NEWS

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

P99-3                          FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          Print Media:         301-827-6242
January 22, 1999                
                                Consumer Inquiries:  888-INFO-FDA

CENTER FOR DEVICES AND RADIOLOGICAL HEALTH DIRECTOR BRUCE BURLINGTON, MD., TO LEAVE FDA

Commissioner of Food and Drugs Jane E. Henney, M.D., announced today that Bruce Burlington, M.D., Director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), will be leaving the Agency later this winter.

"The Agency has been truly fortunate to have Bruce on its team for more than 18 years. His dedication to the Agency and protecting the public health is unmatched," said Commissioner Henney. "Under his leadership, the Agency's device program has been reinvented to more effectively and efficiently serve our stakeholders. The Center has not only eliminated its product review backlog, but also cut review times in half, allowing more people to receive the benefits of needed medical products. As a colleague and a friend, Bruce will be missed."

CDRH is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of all medical devices, including heart valves, breast implants, hip and joint replacements and hospital equipment. The Center also ensures the safety of consumer and medical radiation-emitting equipment, such as x-ray machines, microwave ovens, mammography machines and television sets.

Dr. Burlington joined FDA in 1981. Since 1993, he has been director of CDRH. From 1988 to 1993, he was deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), with responsibility for scientific and managerial supervision of anti-infective, antiviral, metabolic and endocrine products. From 1989 to 1990, he also served as acting director of the Office of Generic Drugs. From 1990 to 1993, he held the post of deputy director for medical affairs of CDER as a collateral duty.

From 1986 to 1988, Dr. Burlington was in charge of the division of biological investigative new drugs in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. And, from 1981 to 1986, he was a research fellow and, then, chief of the respiratory virus laboratory in FDA's biologics unit.

Dr. Burlington earned his medical degree from Louisiana State Univeristy School of Medicine in 1975. He came to FDA after completing his internship and residency in medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Medical Center.

Dr. Burlington will be leaving the FDA in mid-March to head regulatory affairs at Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmacuticals in Philadelphia.

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