Presidential Rank Award conferred on Sundlof

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FDA-CVM director, Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof is one of five top FDA officials awarded the Presidential Rank Award for fiscal year 2000.

The award recognizes senior executives for long-term accomplishment and for the integrity, leadership, and personal conduct that characterizes their work.

The president selects awardees following a rigorous review process conducted by the Office of Personnel Management. Agency directors make the nominations, which are reviewed by panels of private citizens.

Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof received the Presidential Rank Award from FDA commissioner Jane E. Henney, MD.
Drs. Sundlof and Henney

According to those who nominated Dr. Sundlof, his plans began with a reengineering of the CVM's core processes that allow the agency to move applications through the approval process more quickly. He has shifted the emphasis from preventing the marketing of poor products to ensuring availability of safe, effective ones.

Dr. Sundlof has designed and implemented programs to successfully execute the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act, without additional resources. Under his direction, the CVM fully implemented 3/4 ahead of schedule 3/4 the congressional mandate of this legislation: to allow veterinarians to prescribe extralabel uses of approved animal drugs and approved human drugs for animals.

He provided clear direction and leadership for introduction of the Animal Drug Availability Act, designed to increase the number of animal drugs on the market.

Under his guidance, the CVM has approved new antimicrobials for use in animals, for therapeutic purposes as prescription-only products. Dr. Sundlof is FDA liaison to the AVMA Steering Committee on Judicious Therapeutic Antimicrobial Use.

A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology, Dr. Sundlof has published extensively on drug residues and food safety. He chairs the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods. He is FDA consultant to the AVMA Aquaculture and Seafood Advisory Committee. He is past president of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Dr. Sundlof received his DVM degree (1980) and PhD degree in toxicology from the University of Illinois. From 1980-1994 he served on faculty at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a Distinguished Practitioner member of the National Academy of Practice in Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof received the Presidential Rank Award from FDA Commissioner Jane E. Henney, MD. In a separate ceremony, Donna Shalala, secretary of Health and Human Services, recognized recipients from the HHS.