A Day in the Life
Explore a day in the life of ...
Office: Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation
Division: Division of Manufacturing Technologies
Team: Generic Team I
Education: B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry
I began my career at CVM as a Review Chemist in September 2023. Prior to working at CVM, I was a Forensic Chemist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for 11 years. I thought I would remain a Forensic Chemist until I retired, but I realized after some time I wanted to take a different career path. I always knew I wanted to work in the Federal government, and once I saw job announcements for FDA starting to appear more frequently, I figured I would work at achieving my goal of becoming a federal worker. So, I transitioned to the Federal government with FDA in October 2019 as a Nutrient Chemist with the Southeast Food and Feed Laboratory.
In 2023, I decided to apply to CVM for a Review Chemist position. I must say that on the first interview with CVM I was very impressed with the personalities and professionalism of everyone I met. I knew after my second interview that CVM was where I wanted to be.
My job duties as a Review Chemist consist of the following:
- evaluate the manufacturing and controls of drug substances and drug products.
- ascertain current Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) status of a drug firm prior to recommending approval.
- evaluate raw material specifications to ensure identity, strength, quality, and purity of the drug product.
- review formulation for composition, characteristics, and accuracy.
- evaluate specifications and methods of analysis for drug products and drug substances.
- evaluate changes in the manufacturing and controls of approved drug substances and drug products.
As a new reviewer it can be challenging at times, but it’s also very rewarding being in a role that helps fulfill CVM’s mission of protecting human and animal health by approving quality manufactured animal drugs that are safe and effective.
There are so many things that I love about working with CVM. The work culture here is by far the best I have ever experienced. Everyone is very nice and helpful, and I felt welcomed every step of the way. The onboarding process for new employees is amazing! It was so nice having a fellow CVM employee help get me acclimated to the Center while taking care of all the duties necessary to bring me onboard. In addition, the leaders at CVM show they care about their employees and are always asking for feedback to identify areas of improvement.
CVM is a great place to work, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful Center!
Office: Office of Applied Science
Division: Applied Veterinary Research (DAVR)
Education: M.S., Bioinformatics
Born and raised in Baltimore, I’ve known since kindergarten that I wanted to be a researcher. I learned of a fellowship position available at CVM’s Office of Applied Science (OAS) at a time when I desired more opportunities for growth and training than were available to me. It sounded like an opportunity to expand my skill set and learn about non-academic research environments, so I felt that it would be a great move. A former classmate had gone through a fellowship at OAS and spoke highly of the experience, noting the research, environment, and the staff as high points. I initially joined OAS as an ORISE fellow in 2010 and was converted to Staff Fellow in 2013.
My duties include performing basic research as a member of the Molecular Biology Team, with my current research projects focusing on veterinary stem cell characterization and related questions; service on various Office and Center-wide committees relating to training and education of staff, and occasionally hosting student interns from around the country.
My favorite project so far has been the effort to find characterization criteria for canine mesenchymal stem cells. Veterinary stem cells are a growing area of interest that is unfortunately lagging far behind developments on the human side. Working in this novel area allowed me to interact more with personnel at other parts of CVM, other FDA Centers, and outside of FDA. I got to be a part of laying the foundational understanding of a new research program area and expand the techniques our office is able to use. This project further highlighted some of the strengths of our Team/Office in that we were able to adapt and grow to meet the needs of the questions being asked, as well as learn from and communicate with a host of collaborators concurrently.
One of the benefits that I think many CVMers enjoy is the opportunity to use skills in areas outside of regular duties. The opportunity to go on details and learn within a different structure, gain training and attend meetings, and have support in career development from managers are a few of the benefits of working here.
Office: Office Surveillance and Compliance
Division: Division of Drug Compliance
Team: Drugs, Devices Compliance Support Branch
Education: Ph.D. in Biology with a Concentration in Microbiology; Postdoctoral Research in Food Safety Microbiology
I started CVM as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow after my Postdoctoral Research in Food Safety Microbiology. I knew following my academic/research career I wanted to work in Public Health and government work.
As a Biologist in the Drugs, Devices Compliance Support Branch, I:
- oversee regulatory actions involving illegal internet marketing and work closely with the Division of Compliance and the Office of Criminal Investigations on cases of illegal marketing of unapproved and counterfeit drugs intended for use in animals.
- respond to Unapproved Drug inquiries from internal and external stakeholders.
- respond to Drug and Devices Import Inquires from internal and external stakeholders.
I love working at CVM as it provides me with optimal work-life balance, a flexible schedule and I can work from home, something I value very much. Every day I get to interact with veterinarians, lawyers, policymakers, scientists, import professionals and the animal drug industry. In my position, I feel like a problem solver, that I am protecting consumers, and most of all I am protecting both human and animal health
Office: Office of Surveillance and Compliance
Division: Immediate Office
Education: M.S., Biological Sciences
The diverse opportunities at CVM have allowed me to leverage my background as a scientist in unique ways. I initially started at CVM as a Staff Fellow Consumer Safety Officer (CSO), where I applied my analytical skills and scientific knowledge to my daily tasks. My dedication and hard work led to a permanent position as a CSO, where I was introduced to project management and later earned my certification. Today, as a project manager (PM), I lead teams of people with diverse expertise and drive complex projects to success. Here is a breakdown of my primary duties as a PM:
- develop and revise the Office strategic plan to meet regulatory goals;
- develop regulatory project plans, including timelines and milestones;
- lead and motivate team members, assign tasks and responsibilities, and facilitate collaboration and communication within the team;
- maintain regular communication with stakeholders and communicate regulatory requirements;
- prepare and maintain regulatory documentation, generate status reports and performance metrics, and ensure all records are accurate and up-to-date;
- analyze performance and identify areas for improvement for the effectiveness of regulatory processes;
- stay up to date on global regulatory trends, guidelines, and best practices.
Working as a PM is both challenging and rewarding. This role has allowed me to expand my involvement in areas needing support and improvement, enhancing my opportunities to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact. In addition, the diverse training opportunities that CVM offers including regulatory courses, leadership workshops, and technology skills courses; have helped me prepare for future challenges and opportunities.
CVM is a very special place to work because of its positive and collaborative culture. Teamwork is not just encouraged, it is celebrated. This collaborative spirit fosters creativity and innovation, making every day at work a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Another standout aspect of working at CVM is the organization’s emphasis on maintaining healthy work-life balance. The well-being of employees is prioritized through flexible work arrangements and wellness programs to support overall health and happiness.
Office: Office of the Director
Team: Education and Outreach
Education: B.S., Biology, Spanish; D.V.M.
I started my career at CVM in January 2001, but at the time, I didn’t really know much about the center. In December 2000, while working full-time at a dog and cat veterinary clinic, I met a future CVM colleague who told me about her full-time role at the center as an animal drug reviewer. The job sounded interesting, especially because the work would allow me to help many animals and their owners at one time (by working to review and approve drugs to help keep animals healthy), versus helping individual pets and their owners in the clinic, and it would allow me to have a better work-life balance and more time for family. I was sold on the work of CVM and was very excited when I applied for and was selected for a job as a reviewer for companion animal drugs.
As a reviewer, I evaluated different types of submissions sent to CVM by drug companies to support approval of their drugs. Submissions can range from sets of raw data for safety or effectiveness studies with the investigational animal drug, to protocols (the step-by-step instructions on how to conduct a specific study), to submissions about the drug’s label and other information about the drug. One thing I realized as a reviewer was that a lot of puzzle pieces must come together for an animal drug to be approved. I appreciate the work CVM does to ensure drugs are safe and effective and I understand how fortunate I am to have the drugs I need to treat my patients in the clinic.
As a reviewer, I enjoyed talking and connecting with my colleagues within CVM and counterparts from the drug companies. My team leader noticed this and recommended a detail on the original CVM Communications Staff. When the detail ended, I stayed on with the group. I was the first veterinarian to be part of the Communications Staff. My main roles were answering email and phone inquiries from the public and writing articles for the FDA Veterinarian newsletter and CVM’s website.
Over the years, my roles and job titles have changed. Currently, I am a Health Communications Specialist on the Office of the Director’s Education and Outreach Team. I have many different roles on the team and I enjoy the variety. I continue to write consumer-friendly articles for CVM’s website and answer public inquiries. I still find public inquiries to be very interesting—no two are ever the same, and they require you to quickly learn about many different aspects of CVM as you search for the answer. Responding to inquiries allows CVM to share important public health information and it gives a human face and voice to the center.
Office: Office of Surveillance and Compliance
Division: Division of Drug Compliance
Education: B.S., Family Sciences
The diverse hiring opportunities at FDA allowed me to start my career as a student employee. Upon graduation, I was hired at CVM as a Program Support Assistant. I took night school courses to complete my education in the sciences. My hard work led to a promotion as an Industry Compliance Specialist and later to a Consumer Safety Officer (CSO) position. Here is a breakdown of my primary duties as a CSO:
- Coordinate product recalls between the Center experts, ORA, and firms;
- Evaluate draft press releases for product recalls;
- Conduct frequent quality control projects to maintain data integrity;
- Perform research and analysis to identify critical factors and precedent scenarios;
- Educate colleagues on Center recall processes;
- Collect and distribute product complaints;
- Stay up to date on current events in order to identify situations that overlap;
- Collaborate with colleagues to develop new policies and processes.
Working as a CSO is both rewarding and challenging. I get to work on projects that support our mission of keeping humans and other animals safe. I also see countless areas of potential growth working alongside my peers. I’m glad that CVM offers training to help me to improve my skills. Trainings that are offered include DEIA, diplomacy, leadership, IT, regulatory history, and government operations.
CVM is a high-performance organization. This makes working at CVM stand out in the area of workplace culture. We have excellent work-life balance. Every employee has a voice. Collaboration is key to making projects progress to completion. I also feel that my suggestions are taken into consideration by my management and peers.
CVM cares about its people and the people care about CVM and that is what makes it such a great place to work.
Office: Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation
Division: Division of Therapeutic Drugs for Food Animals
Education: D.V.M.
In my current position, I review therapeutic drugs for food animals for safety and effectiveness prior to their approval and release on the market. More specifically I work with dewormers and physiologic drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and reproductive drugs. I look at studies that drug companies have conducted in order to prove their products are safe and effective. I review blood work, necropsies, and study procedures. I work with drug companies to develop study protocols and to help them understand our regulatory framework. Although entirely different from my position as a veterinarian within a practice, I love this job.
This position allows me to combine the veterinary knowledge I gained in school with the practical experience I gained in the field and collaborate with not only my federal colleagues, but also scientific experts in various fields. Scientific discussions revolving around the methodology of a new diagnostic test or the most recent paper on an infectious livestock disease are frequent occurrences within my office that have challenged me to apply my knowledge and experience to the task at hand.
Outside of my regulatory review duties, I have been fortunate in this position to take part in spearheading a new initiative focused on educating the public about antiparasitic resistance in grazing livestock. This opportunity has truly been my pride and joy on which to work, granting me leadership and public speaking skills that I would not have been able to accomplish otherwise.
The thought of contributing to something as part of a far bigger whole is exciting to me and one major reason I was originally drawn to CVM. The longer I am here, the more opportunities to professionally excel reveal themselves, which I believe is a great strength of the Center’s. The perception of a public servant in the face of today’s growing agricultural challenges is humbling and inspirational to me and ultimately why my tenure here at CVM has been so enriching and continues to grow.
Office: Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation
Division: Division of Scientific Support
Education: Ph.D., Statistics
About 10 years ago, I joined CVM as a statistical reviewer in the Division of Scientific Support. I collaborated with veterinary reviewers and other scientists to evaluate animal drug approval applications. I worked with veterinary reviewers to evaluate whether the design, observations, and statistical analysis of a study proposed by a drug sponsor will likely generate quality data appropriate to the drug claim being tested. Additionally, when a sponsor submits the report from a study conducted to support effectiveness or safety, I provide the statistical expertise to evaluate the quality of the data generated from the study, and whether the data supports the approval. Today, using the knowledge and experience I gained, I mentor new reviewers and help develop a working environment that fosters collaboration among scientists from different disciplines in order to develop drug review processes that are efficient, adhere to scientific principles, and are responsive to the needs of the American public.
CVM is a great place to work for me for several reasons.
First, I like applying statistics to real world problems. A CVM statistician works daily on issues that directly impact the safety and effectiveness of drugs on the animals that need them and the safety of humans that may consume dairy, meat, and other animal products.
Second, the diversity, dedication, and creativity of the professionals working for animal drug regulation make CVM a challenging and fulfilling place to practice my profession. On any given day, I can be in discussions with veterinary medical officers, management specialists, policy advisors, molecular biologists, or even fellow statisticians.
Third, CVM is an organization that nurtures creativity and innovation. Each person has the opportunity to participate in improving review science, the center’s business processes, and office policy; and contributions are recognized and rewarded. Management creates and maintains a work environment that fosters work-life balance through flexible working hours, teleworking, and other office policies that allow employees flexibility to schedule work and personal commitments around each other.
Office: Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation
Division: Division of Human Food Safety
Team: Residue Chemistry Team
Education: Ph.D., Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences
I began at CVM immediately after obtaining my doctorate degree in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences. I knew that I did not want a position in academia. However, a government position had never crossed my mind until I received an email from a member of my graduate committee passing along a job posting at CVM. Although I was not offered that initial position, my CV was passed along and here I am – a biologist on the Residue Chemistry Team in the Division of Human Food Safety. As a member of the Residue Chemistry Team, I:
- evaluate drug residues in the edible products of treated food animals and recommend tolerances and withdrawal periods and/or milk discard times;
- discuss residue chemistry data requirements with a diverse customer base;
- facilitate U.S.A. approval of safe and effective new animal drug products for use in food-producing animals; and
- interface with scientific regulatory counterparts to ensure continuous improvement in worldwide human food safety practices.
Although review work is the main part of my job, I have been involved in various projects updating federal regulations and exploring the feasibility of pursuing other statutory revisions, consistent with the Agency’s mission to protect and promote the public health. Such projects have helped me to expand my statutory writing skills and provide me with a broader network of colleagues within CVM. In addition, I am an invited speaker at the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) tissue residue and nonclinical Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) training courses for FDA inspectors, where I am responsible for presenting an overview of human food safety information. These courses allow me to get back to my roots of teaching and interact with the inspectors in the field who have a different perspective of the drug approval process than those of us working at the Center level.
CVM has many attractive qualities and strengths that have made it easy for me to stay. One of the main attractants was the work-life balance. Having just finished a PhD program, spending 16+ hours in the lab a day, being able to have a flexible schedule and work from home was a definite plus. As an added bonus, the ability to interact with other scientists, veterinarians, policymakers, members of industry, etc., on a daily basis has helped to keep me abreast of the new science and policy. I am using my graduate training in a way that I never thought possible; combining my joy of science and critical thinking with my passion for writing. One would think that, as a reviewer, the job would become monotonous; however, that is not the case. No two submissions are alike and each presents their own challenges; not to mention the additional side projects with which we are tasked.
Office: Office of Management/Immediate Office
Education: B.A., Business Administration
I came to CVM after 15 years at the National Institutes of Health where I was an Administrative Officer (AO). As an MO in the Immediate Office (IO) of the Office of Management I support OM administratively. This consists of preparing and tracking the OM Payroll and Operating Budgets, approving all procurement and travel orders, acting as a Card Approving Official (CAO) for all of OM’s purchase card holders, preparing Human Resource (HR) packages, acting as a timekeeper, acting as a COR for OM’s contracts, and other administrative duties. While I am part of OM/IO I also support the Office of Minor Use Minor Species (OMUMS) as their MO. As an MO with my hands in so many different pots I am in a unique position to recognize areas we can make improvements to processes which is one of the things I enjoy most about my job.
One of my favorite projects I have been part of is being a part of the group that developed the Center’s new Core Values. I volunteered to be part of the group figuring as a newer employee it would be a great opportunity to network, learn more about the culture here at CVM, and put a little bit of my mark on the Center. I enjoyed being a part of this group and the project itself so much more than I even expected. I got to use a grassroots effort and work with employees and leadership across the Center I would not normally have the opportunity to interact with. I got to see firsthand what employees at all levels of the Center felt was most important to the Center and use some of my creativity (the little I have) to mold and meld the feedback to become Core Values everyone truly can believe in.
CVM has many strengths but the one that still astonishes me the most is just how much effort and real action is put into the culture here. There is a real effort to ensure the work environment is one of collaboration, empowerment of everyone (regardless of position), balance (work/life), learning, progression forward in all areas, and a culture flexible and reflective enough to continue to sustain it.
Another strength of CVM is their training program. The Center offers training to all employees in a variety of areas including technical and soft skills. Employees are encouraged to take the training and provided opportunities to use what is learned every day.
I try to demonstrate each of the Core Values as often as possible. The Core Value We Serve is one that I demonstrate on a daily basis. It is part of my position every day to serve my “customers” inside OM and OMUMS but I also am given the opportunity to serve others in CVM quite often. I do this by volunteering for various CVM committees and programs, providing back-up for other MOs when they are out of the office, acting as a liaison between the other MOs and the various OM staffs, and being willing to assist anywhere I am needed.
Office: Office of Management
Team: Program Resource and Management Staff (PRMS)
Education: B.S., Finance
I joined CVM in 2010 after working as a Purchasing and Shipping Manager in the private sector for 3+ years. My initial goal in coming to the Government side was to become a contract specialist. After applying to 50+ positions in the span of a few months, a friend shared a job announcement at CVM that involved supporting acquisitions. I had never heard of CVM, but in reviewing the FDA website, I knew immediately that I could support its mission and be proud to be part of the organization. At first my role was to support Activity Time Reporting (ATR) and the Purchase Card. While I enjoyed supporting both programs and working with wonderful people along the way, my interests from the start was in acquisitions. My role slowly transitioned to assisting Michelle Fuller, CVM’s Acquisition Liaison, in reviewing acquisition packages(documents) and ultimately assisting in the establishment of the PRMS Acquisition Team. In my latest role I support Office of Research (OR) and CVM’s IT staff as their office Acquisition Liaison. I also manage the CVM Central budget.
In my role as Acquisition Liaison, I assist in developing the acquisition packages (documents) required to set up new contracts and assist in seeing them through to award, assist in post-award issues that may arise, and assist in invoice receiving and closeout. What I enjoy with acquisitions is the feeling of accomplishment and the ability to serve my “customers.” In addition, there is truly never a dull moment. Each contract action is unique, each may have their challenges, and since many of these contracts are one year in length, at any given time I can be supporting pre-award or post-award actions on ~200 contracts. I never quite know what challenges or opportunities I may face on a daily basis and it’s this experience that keeps things interesting.
In my role in managing CVM Central Budget, I assist in planning the annual budget and executing the approved budget which includes approving orders, planning and tracking spending to three fund types, and reconciling the budget. For those that are not familiar, the CVM Central Budget covers CVM-wide requirements such as Center IT requirements, PC Refresh, Safety, TDLC, Awards Ceremony, Moving Services, Fleet, etc. I enjoy this work because I have the opportunity to see things from a budget perspective. I also have the opportunity to work with many great people who help support the Central budget.
Besides the mission, what I like most about CVM is our relatively small size and the opportunities that this presents to us. The opportunities being the ability to volunteer for cross-cutting work groups or to otherwise assist with an initiative that can benefit multiple offices or the whole Center. Other opportunities include the mentorship programs and the variety of learning experiences that TDLC provides. It’s these experiences that allow CVM employees to stretch and grow. I am not sure you would have the same opportunities at a large center. Lastly, I enjoy all the people that make CVM a high performing organization. The talent, the shared mission focus, and the (unspoken) “leave your title at the door” culture make CVM what it is; a great place to work.
Office: Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation
Division: Division of Human Food Safety
Education: Ph.D.
My time at CVM followed 4 years at the EPA. While I loved my work there, I wasn’t interested in continuing a long commute and CVM, with its generous telework policy and the fact that it was 15 minutes from my home, seemed like a great fit. As it turns out, it has been a fantastic fit and an overall great experience. As a human food safety toxicologist, I spend my time evaluating the downstream safety to consumers of meat, milk, eggs, and honey of drugs administered to animals such as cows, chickens, sheep, and turkeys. We work collaboratively, sharing parts of each drug review within the team to make sure that experts examine the relevant studies for each drug. This ensures that the hundreds of millions of people who eat food treated with these medications can be assured of its safety.
In addition, CVM has given me the time and space to specialize as a toxicologist. To this end, I have become an expert in the human user safety of veterinary drugs. I am the go-to person on my team when my colleagues working on drugs for companion animals (horses, dogs, cats, etc.) have questions on what the risks to a veterinarian or home user would be if they were exposed to a medication. This work allows me to draw heavily from my background in biodefense and apply it in a very different fashion. Protecting people from these unexpected exposures has been both a really interesting challenge and really impactful to people’s lives.
Review work takes up the majority of my time as a toxicologist. But there are many additional projects in which I have had a chance to participate. Such projects include writing new guidance for industry, to ensure that we get the best possible information related to human user safety submissions, as well as other guidances, meant to improve submission quality or improve the safety of animals and humans. I’m also able to participate in some research work, providing CVM input to a project on 3-D printed skin in partnership with our colleagues at National Center for Toxicological Research.
As a USPHS Commissioned Corps, I have additional duties on top of the work from CVM. This has included multiple deployments during the COVID pandemic, many of which lasted more than 30 days at a time. My supervisor has been understanding of my obligations to various PHS related organizations and has given me the space and time needed to handle them. Similarly, my team has been very helpful in assuming work on short notice to give me time to fulfill the PHS mission.
Serving in the Commissioned Corps offers wonderful benefits, including excellent healthcare, a pension, and the opportunity to easily move between duty stations (i.e., federal agencies that employ PHS officers). More than that, the ability to serve my country during natural disasters, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic is extremely fulfilling. I’ve had the chance to assist individuals effected by hurricanes, build information processing systems to assist Commissioned Corps operations, and work at the HHS Secretary Operations Center, things that would never have happened without being a Commissioned Corps officer.
Overall, CVM has been a fantastic and fascinating place to work. The flexibilities afforded by remote work as well as a supportive management structure have made this an excellent place to find wonderful professional opportunities to explore.