Margaret Hamburg

Margaret-Hamburg Headshot

Margaret Hamburg

Margaret Ann Hamburg (born July 12, 1955) is an American physician and public health administrator. She is best known for her tenure as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2009 to 2015. Hamburg has had a distinguished career in public health, holding various significant positions in both government and private sectors.

Early Life and Education

Margaret Hamburg was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is the daughter of Beatrix Hamburg, a psychiatrist, and David A. Hamburg, a physician who served as the president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Hamburg attended Harvard College, where she earned her undergraduate degree, and later received her M.D. from Harvard Medical School.

Career

Early Career

After completing her medical training, Hamburg worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and later served as the Assistant Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. She also worked at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she was appointed Commissioner in 1991. During her tenure, she implemented several innovative public health initiatives, including the first public health bioterrorism defense program.

Food and Drug Administration

In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Hamburg to be the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. She was confirmed by the United States Senate and took office on May 18, 2009. During her tenure, Hamburg focused on modernizing the FDA's regulatory processes, improving food safety, and enhancing the agency's ability to respond to public health emergencies. She also played a key role in the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Post-FDA Career

After leaving the FDA in 2015, Hamburg continued to be active in public health and policy. She has served on various boards and committees, including the National Academy of Medicine and the Council on Foreign Relations. Hamburg has also been involved in global health initiatives and has worked with organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Personal Life

Margaret Hamburg is married to Peter Fitzhugh Brown, an artificial intelligence expert and executive. They have two children.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Hamburg has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to public health. These include the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal and the American Public Health Association's Sedgwick Memorial Medal.

See Also

• Food and Drug Administration
• Public health
• National Institutes of Health
• Harvard Medical School