FDA Seeks Full-Time Medical Officers to Evaluate Cardiovascular Devices

October 10, 2019—The FDA is recruiting vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons with endovascular experience to serve as full-time medical officers in the Office of Cardiovascular Devices of the FDA Office of Device Evaluation. Appointments would be for an initial 2-year period with the ability to continue if mutually desired. The positions, which include full federal benefits, would be based at the FDA’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington, DC.

According to the FDA, the agency’s medical officers work together with engineers, statisticians, and other scientists to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medical devices for their intended use and make the regulatory decisions that determine whether these devices can be made available to physicians and patients, either in clinical trials or via marketing approval.

In this position, cardiovascular medical officers would be working on projects involving the full range of surgical, endovascular, and hybrid devices used for repair of aortic pathologies.

Duties include:

• Reviewing proposed clinical trial protocols to ensure that trials are capable of collecting valid scientific evidence while sufficiently protecting patient safety
• Analyzing the results of clinical trials to determine whether they support the safety and effectiveness of a given product
• Developing a scientifically sound clinical review policy for these devices
• Evaluating postmarket device safety issues
• Conducting outreach to device manufacturers and physician groups on clinical topics

Basic qualifications include:

• Candidates should be United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States
• Candidates should possess either a medical degree from an accredited institution in the United States or certification that their non-United States medical training is equivalent to an MD/DO degree
• Candidates should have completed residency training in a cardiovascular specialty (eg, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery) and possess excellent critical thinking and communication skills

Postresidency clinical practice and experience designing, analyzing, or participating in clinical trials is also desirable.

There is no deadline for applying, and the starting date is flexible.

Physicians may apply for the position by sending a curriculum vitae and a statement of interest to the FDA at CardioHiring@fda.hhs.gov. This email address may also be used to submit questions about the position.

General information about working at the FDA is available at http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WorkingatFDA/default.htm.