Veterinarian named AD of Women's Health at FDA

[mzteris]

New FDA Appointee
FDA Appoints Official from Office of Veterinary Medicine to Office of Women's Health
September 16, 2005 CONTACT:
Erin Kiernon [phone]

Washington, DC — FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford has appointed a man who has spent the majority of his career in the office of veterinary medicine to the position of acting director of the Office of Women's Health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Norris Alderson will replace Dr. Susan Wood, a key women's health expert, who resigned on August 31 in protest of the FDA's handling of the application to make Plan B emergency contraception (EC) available over the counter.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Interim President Karen Pearl issued these comments on the appointment:

"The appointment of Dr. Norris Alderson, a man who has spent the majority of his career in the office of veterinary medicine, to the position of acting director of the FDA's Office of Women's Health speaks volumes about the priority the Bush administration places on women's health and safety. The appointment of Dr. Alderson to replace Dr. Susan Wood further undermines the shaky credibility of an agency that has allowed politics to trump sound science, medical evidence, and women's health.

"Following the needless delays in granting women over-the-counter access to emergency contraception, this appointment is another two steps backward on the FDA's long road toward restoring its integrity with women and their health care providers like Planned Parenthood."


-MORE-

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/media/pressreleases/pr-050916-fda.xml;jsessionid=403B52D0ECDF50A3FB80B5A53EDD567E

[miss_kitty]

1. Nothing new in that

the paternalistic federal government treating women like dogs, vis a vis healthcare.

[mzteris]

10. white males rule

so they set the policies.

It's a real kick in the teeth, ain't it?

[jean]

2. do they ever think that appointing a FEMALE to this spot might be wise?

[mzteris]

11. nahhhhhh

what do "WOMEN" know?

[MountainLaurel]

32. Well the last person in the post was a woman

Who resigned in protest at the FDA ignoring scientific fact for political issues. They don't want that to happen again.

[Captain Hilts]

53. Appointing a 'woman' not just a 'female' would be even better. (nt)

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Holy Crap. Guess that tells us what they think of women's health issues.

:mad: :puke: :grr: :nuke: :banghead: :rant:

[mzteris]

12. they don't give a

cr@p about WOMEN.

[Lindsay]

4. Sounds like some juvenile male's idea

of a great joke on women.

Have I mentioned lately that I really hate these fuckers? (And they're making it quite clear that the feeling is mutual.)

[Lars39]

6. As my mom used to say when someone had pulled a prank on her:

they've got to sleep sometime. These sick fucks are putting things in motion right now that doesn't bode well for the future.

[mzteris]

13. you'd think women

would work together to overcome this bs instead of joining in the "poor little woman" charade.

[Lars39]

21. There's a lot of clueless women

that are in for a very rude awakening.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Bingo, some like my sis, I love her but she still lstens to PBS

you think PBS has this little joke on the top of the news? And she works in the medical field for crying out lous

[Lars39]

26. Listens to PBS and thinks she's right on top of things...

yeah, I know how that goes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. getting her to listen to AAR

I keep changing the station when I can

[Lars39]

28. That's good, maybe she'll snap out of it.

[cosmicdot]

5. is Bu$hCo getting a laugh with pet MDs heading up the FDA?

that's Lester's background, too

"Dr. Crawford received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Auburn University, his PhD in pharmacology from the University of Georgia, and his Honorary Doctorate (MDV) from Budapest University."

http://www.fda.gov/oc/crawford/bio.html

[mzteris]

14. holy smokes

what's with the VETs????

Shouldn't PEOPLE doctors be in charge of PEOPLE's health????

[MountainLaurel]

33. Must of FDA drug research

Is performed on animals, I assume. I'm guessing that's why vets are so heavily entrenched in the agency.

[ContraBass Black]

61. I woould think that his doctorate is human pharmacology.

[bhuddaboy]

71. Yes, They Should, But...

...to people who think most women are bitches, a veterinarian is an appropriate choice to oversee women's health issues.

[CottonBear]

38. Crawford is a political hack. My friend worked w/ him at UGA.

He thinks Crawford is a low-life hack. Crawford does have a PhD in Pharamcology from UGA. My friend (retired professor with both a DVM and a PhD in Veterinary medicine) told me that Crawford was allowed to skip taking certain required (important science) classes in Pharmacy Graduate school. He spent his time bouncing between UGA and Alabama and working for Reagan, Bush I and Bush II.

Crawford is a good old boy who get appointments through the good old boy network. His colleagues at UGA don't think much of him at all.

FYI: Most of the medical microbiology, immunology, parisitology and infectious disease researchers in our major universities are veterinarians with DVMs, Masters and PhDs in Veterinary Medicine and Medical M icrobiology. Many research vets are working on bioterrorism vaccine projects for the CDC and the Dept. of Defense. I know an equine vet who is working for the CDC now. Immunized horses are used to produce vast quantities of serum for vaccines. most of the vaccines we receive are produced from horse serum. (Horses are large and thus produce lots of serum.)

[Retrograde]

7. treating women as cattle - I mean, chattel

I must say that I am impressed by this administration: just when you think they've gone and done the dumbest, most stupid thing you can imagine they surprise you by going one step beyond.

[mzteris]

15. I know.

They never cease to amaze me the depths to which they can stoop.

[alfredo]

8. Make sure everyone on your mailing list

gets this.

[mzteris]

17. My rwingnut brother

would think it was funny.

[alfredo]

31. That's an easy way to end up sleeping on the couch.

[DaytonOHDem]

9. You know, I have been questioning my decision to go to the

Washington D.C. March but dimwit just keeps giving me more and more reasons for why I must be there. Are these people actually running this country? I have never been so scared and disgusted in my life. A veterinarian being appointed the director of women's health. Why am I not surprised and why does not being surprised scare me even more.

[mzteris]

18. it's almost surreal, isn't it? n/t

[Lars39]

20. Welcome to DU, DaytonOHDem!

This appointment has got me angry in a way I didn't think I possessed.
It's like some horrible nightmare, isn't it? I'll being going to a state capitol protest.
Good on you for going to DC! :toast:

[jackster]

62. WELCOME DaytonOHDem

and I'll be there in DC too -

[Skidmore]

16. Not a peep will be uttered in protest by congress.

[mzteris]

19. of course not

they're nearlly all men. The women - what few there are - would be painted as being only concerned about "women's issues" so they can't say anything.

[yo-yo-ma]

22. i'm shocked

and outraged

a case of "just when you thought it couldn't get any worse"

and - you know - they'll get away with this easy - not a whiff in the media i'd predict, not a single outcry from the congress -- fucking depressing

[mzteris]

43. under the radar

they love the distraction method. Watch this hand.........

[ticapnews]

23. Not a single entry at Google News for this guy...

Not one news story about it anywhere.

A general google search turns up a few things...
He was previously in charge of nanotechnology regulation.
http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/powerpoint_conversions/OhioNano_files/outline/
http://foodhaccp.com/msgboard.mv?parm_func=showmsg+parm_msgnum=1007732


His bio from a speaking engagement:
http://slata.stanford.edu/Conference05/speakers.htm
Norris Alderson received a B.S. in Animal Husbandry from the University of Tennessee and a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. He joined the FDA in 1971 as a reviewer in the Bureau of Veterinary Medicine (BVM). Beginning in 1980, he held a number of management positions in the BVM research organization culminating in the position of Director, Office of Research, Center for Veterinary Medicine, a position he held from 1988 to 2001. In July 2001, he became Acting Senior Advisor for Science, FDA, and Acting Director, Office of Science Coordination and Communication, responsible for the Office of Good Clinical Practice, the Counter Terrorism Staff, and the Science Coordination and Communication Staff. In May 2002, he was appointed Senior Associate Commissioner for Science, FDA and Director, Office of Science and Health Coordination. In November 2002, the position title was changed to Associate Commissioner for Science. In this position, his responsibilities include the Office of Orphan Products Development, the Office of Women's Health, the Office of Good Clinical Practice, the Science Coordination Staff, and standards coordination. Dr. Alderson retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1997 with the rank of Colonel.

Lots more links through google
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22Norris+Alderson%22

A horse show director heading up FEMA, veterinatrians at the FDA...Next you'll tell me we have a political hack in charge of rebuilding New Orleans...

edit to add:
The link for Dr. Alderson at the FDA website has been removed.
http://www.fda.gov/womens/alderson.html

[mzteris]

44. Next you'll tell me

we have a horse's ASS pretending to be president!

[mzteris]

49. BTW - what the heck is

"Orphan products"????

[ticapnews]

66. Orphan products

http://www.fda.gov/orphan/

Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) has been dedicated to promoting the development of products that demonstrate promise for the diagnosis and/or treatment of rare diseases or conditions since it was created in 1982. OOPD interacts with the medical and research communities, professional organizations, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as rare disease groups. The OOPD administers the major provisions of the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) which provide incentives for sponsors to develop products for rare diseases. The ODA has been very successful - more than 200 drugs and biological products for rare diseases have been brought to market since 1983. In contrast, the decade prior to 1983 saw fewer than ten such products come to market. In addition, the OOPD administers the Orphan Products Grants Program which provides funding for clinical research in rare diseases.

[Wordie]

25. Just one more example of the total incompetence of this Admin. Recommended

[bluedawg12]

29. He is an expert in cow, COW!!! fertility "cough" "gag"

Ruminant nutritionist: cows = ruminants

http://www.usps.com/judicial/1972deci/1-56.htm

"The first expert witness who testified on behalf of the Complainant was Dr. Norris Eugene Alderson, a ruminant nutritionist who is presently employed by the Department of Agriculture.

Dr. Alderson replied, in response to a question based on paragraph 3(b) of the complaint, that Vitamin E is normally needed to be added as a supplement to the diet only in younger cattle and sheep. In some instances, the substance is used as an additive in feed lot diets, and there are some articles that have suggested that dairy cattle be given certain amounts of Vitamin E to prevent the occurrence of an oxidized flavor in the milk.

There is no scientific evidence, however, that Vitamin E is useful to increase the fertility or the sexual activity of horses or cattle or foxes or mink. "

[ChairmanAgnostic]

42. which describes the Bush view on women

heck, laura and their daughters are all cows. Obviously all women must therefore be. . .

[mzteris]

46. moo moo moooooooo

Bovine women. Docile and unthinking. Doing what they're told. Existing only to procreate and give milk. No thinking allowed.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

60. as I said, it describes the women in his family.

to a teat.

(that was uncalled for, so sorry)

[mzteris]

45. maybe he's important

because all of those hormones they inject in meat is changing the make up of women?

Earlier puberty. Curvier girls.

Fertility is important ya know. As they strip us of the right to abortion or even birthcontrol.

[Gloria]

30. Paging Dr. Dean----This is INSULTING and should be a headline

grabber if you decide to use it....for God's sake, Democrats....WAKE THE FUCK UP!!!

[Maine-ah]

34. ya got the last vote from me.

What the fuck. Are they planning on turning us into "puppy farms"?

[MaineDem]

35. Just when I think I've seen the worst this administration can do

Holy shit...this just completely blows my mind!

I don't have words to express my outrage.

[sevendogs]

39. My words...non-words exactly

An absolute disgrace...and I love vets...for my dogs! I don't believe it...no, I do...I can't stand much more....

[raccoon]

59. Ditto, and I too think very well of vets. nt

[knitter4democracy]

36. You've got to be freakin' kidding me!!!

Oh, Hell No!!! We can't take this one lying down--we've got to fight this one now!

He's a cow fertility specialist?! Is that what I am to this government, a cow? Oh. My. God.

[mzteris]

47. whoa bessie.......

Women were always marginalized.

Does anyone have a decent female senator/congresswoman? (I've got Dole, so no need to write to HER!)

[knitter4democracy]

63. We've got Stabenow, but I wouldn't say she's great.

I e-mailed Laura Bush. I would think someone who's been through fertility treatments as she has would be offended enough to say something.

I'm calling Stabenow's office on Monday.

[wildeyed]

37. I thought this was going to be an Onion article.

Parody or something.

[mzteris]

48. I wish. :( n/t

[LostinVA]

40. So, I guess * is saying we're a bunch of bitches that don't deserve

Real health care...

[MaineDem]

41. Hold on...here's an update! FDA reconsiders

* A few hours after the Food and Drug Administration posted on its Web site an announcement naming Dr. Norris E. Alderson, an expert in animal science, acting director of the Office of Women’s Health, the posting was replaced with an announcement naming Theresa A. Toigo to the post. The new new director is a career employee with a strong backgound in cancer and HIV/AIDS.

I gt this in an email from www.womensenews.org

Now we need the background on Toigo.

[mzteris]

50. Not finding this......

the link is broken, the google "NEWS" item on this - the only one - is also broken. Google web turns up nothing.....

Can you forward the email?

[MaineDem]

51. Here's a link

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2454/context/archive

This piece is toward the end.

[mzteris]

55. the link just isn't working

for me........ I keep getting page cannot be displayed....Cannot find server....

[MaineDem]

56. I don't know what's wrong. It works fine for me

Do you think you have to be subscribed to it? I can't imagine that you would; you should be able to get to their website regardless. I was able to read their site before I subscribed to their newsletter.

Here's the register page: http://www.womensenews.org/join.cfm

(It's a free subscription)

[MaineDem]

57. Theresa A. Toigo Is Appointed Acting Director of Women's Health

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester M. Crawford today announced the appointment of Theresa A. Toigo as the Acting Director of FDA's Office of Women’s Health. Ms. Toigo also serves as the Director of FDA’s Office of Special Health Issues (OSHI).

"Terry brings more than 20 years of exemplary public service mostly as a patient advocate at FDA to this important position," said Dr. Crawford.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2005/toigoOWH.html

[mzteris]

64. apparently they got so much

grief, they immediately changed it. I've yet to find an article about it though.

Note at the top of their announcement:

This is a revision of this statement posted earlier on September 16.


So, did someone just release the wrong announcement or did the backlash cause them to change it?

[tanyev]

52. Great. Now when we have serious "female problems"

they can just put us down. Much simpler. Brilliant.

[Eurobabe]

54. It makes sense, they use mice and guinea pigs

first before they foist their ilky products on women anyhow. Who would know better than a vet? A vet and FDA, perfect combo.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

58. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rolling-stones,-the/118220.html

(m. jagger/k. richards)

Feeling so tired, can’t understand it
Just had a fortnight’s sleep
I’m feeling so tired, I’m so distracted
Ain’t touched a thing all week

I’m feeling drunk, juiced up and sloppy
Ain’t touched a drink all night
I’m feeling hungry, can’t see the reason
Just ate a horse meat pie

Yeah when you call my name
I salivate like a pavlov dog
Yeah when you lay me out
My heart is beating louder than a big bass drum, alright

Yeah, you got to mix it child
You got to fix it must be love
It’s a bitch
You got to mix it child
You got to fix it but love
It’s a bitch, alright

Sometimes I’m sexy, move like a stud
Kicking the stall all night
Sometimes I’m so shy, got to be worked on
Don’t have no bark or bite, alright

Yeah when you call my name
I salivate like a pavlov dog
Yeah when you lay me out
My heart is bumpin’ louder than a big bass drum, alright

I said hey, yeah I feel alright now
Got to be a...
Hey, I feel alright now
Hey hey hey
Hey hey yeah...

[Generator]

65. Yeah and the problem with the Democrats is they are too PC

That's what the big DU "hero" comes up. Meanwhile, we have leadership that is not bordering on, but is criminal. This sums it-a real expert in women's health chooses to quit because the motherfucking ideologue Christian Right comes before WOMEN'S health. A veterinarian indeed.

So women are valued as animals then? Property? Oh yeah. That's it.

[mzteris]

68. I'm sorry

but aren't you on the wrong message board. I think you might want freepers.org..........

OR am I totally misunderstanding your rant?

[phillysuse]

67. Male Veterinarian a Good Choice for Women's Health Job

I disagree.

Norris Alderson comes highly recommended by Michael
Brown who worked with him when he was at the Arabian
Horse Association. Just like Brownie knows emergencu
management, Norris knows women's health.

Besides there were no Ob-Gyn's available - they were
all giving their love to their women patients
according to Bush.

Finally, Norris Alderson will be available to
fly out to Crawford, the next time Bush is
out in the barn "milking" his horse.

[populistdriven]

69. For a sec I read "Vegetarian", I thought Cool! Then the horror set in...

Bush must have just watched a rerun of City Slickers and thought, well as a Vet this guy can shove his arm completely up a Cow's... well anyways that must be what Bush was thinking...

[Dastard Stepchild]

70. Oh...well then...gynecologists be damned...

I suppose I should cancel my upcoming appointment with the women's health center and just call my cat's vet. I wonder if she knows that is eminently qualified to care for me as well as my kitties and puppers.

[progressoid]

72. Good god - this makes my brain ache.