Hamburg's legacy

Each FDA Commissioner redefines the job. Margaret Hamburg's goals from the outset were to enhance scientific capacity through hires and better training, make regulatory science a recognized field, boost morale and heal a fractious and poisonous internal culture, and forge new, closer ties with patient advocates and the companies that turn scientific discoveries into new medicines.

Hamburg was largely successful in accomplishing her goals, and she is leaving FDA in better shape than when she was put in charge...