Daily Kos: More hackery: FDA appointed veterinarian head of women's health (updated: HHS still lists him!)

More hackery: FDA appointed veterinarian head of women's health (updated: HHS still lists him!)

by VirginiaDem

Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:26:59 PM PDT

Oh, I'm serious! From Planned Parenthood:

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.

Oh, they're serious! His bio on the flip.

VirginiaDem's diary :: ::

From a Stanford event description:

Norris Alderson, Associate Commissioner for Science, FDA
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.

In other words, this man's formal education is in Animal Husbandry and he spent 30 of his 34 years in the real world working on Veterinary Medicine (that's almost 90%). And now he's the nations top official on (human) women's health.

Makes you feel safe, doesn't it!

Update [2005-9-18 21:33:57 by VirginiaDem]: As noted by a comment, the FDA has already corrected their error:

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 guess Katrina has made otherwise big news fly under the radar recently?

Update [2005-9-18 21:52:5 by VirginiaDem]: Or did they?:

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dr. Norris Alderson
Acting Director, Office of Women's Health
Associate Commissioner for Science
Food and Drug Administration
Parklawn Building, Room 14C06
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
301-827-3340 phone
301-827-3042 fax
E-mail: norris.alderson@fda.hhs.gov

(per comments)

Tags: FDA (all tags)

Permalink | 99 comments

After the Brown situation... (4.00 / 21)

maybe this should be of interest, no?

by VirginiaDem on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:28:39 PM PDT

HEAD OF FDA, IS A VET (ANOTHER BUSH APPOINTEE?) (none / 0)

From Skippy the Bush Kangeroo, more evidence that we're all just lab rats to bushco:

*update* apparently there is a real need for veterinarians at women's health.

u.s. food and drug administration (fda) commissioner dr. lester m. crawford announced today(23 august 2005) the appointment of rear admiral linda r. tollefson to the position of assistant commissioner for science. most recently, radm tollefson served as deputy director of the center for veterinary medicine (cvm). in her new position, she will also serve as coordinator for commissioned corps affairs at fda and direct fda's offices of women's health and orphan products development. (pdf file of fda press release)

guess it helps when the "boss" at fda is a veterinarian:

dr. lester crawford, commissioner of the u.s. food and drug administraiton, will speak at 11:30 a.m. oct.6 at the fall conference for veterinarians at oklahoma state university. crawford, a veterinarian, will speak on "drug use, approval and regulation in veterinary medicine."for more information on the conference, visit www.cvm.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7672per newsok.com (reg.req.)

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. (official bio)

by judybrowni on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 10:16:13 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Tollefson's record (none / 0)

I've checked Dr. Tollefson's publication record in the scientific/medical literature. In marked contrast to Dr. Alderson, who shows no evidence of being qualified for his post (see downthread), Dr. Tollefson has a broad set of peer-reviewed journal articles related to a range of human and veterinary health topics. Many of these articles relate to issues that I believe should be a critical focus of the FDA: dioxin levels, aspartame consumption, the human health impacts of farm antibiotics, mercury levels in fish, etc.
Her record in Women's Health issues is meager. However, she does have one report entitled:
"Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation During Pregnancy" (Military Medicine, 1994).

In fairness, one could make a case for her expertise. Dr. Alderson appears far less qualified.

by ChemGeek on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 12:02:06 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

The FDA process... and qualifications... (none / 0)

Given that a potential drug must be tested comprehensively for safety and efficacy BEFORE it ever sees a human, guess who supervises those studies, a vetrinarian.

In addition to the DVM, Crawford holds a PhD in Pharmacology. My background in science (PhD Biochemistry) tells me this is exactly the kind of person that should run the FDA, a scientist with experience in pharmacology and the safety models used to assess a drug candidate.

While the guy may be a political hack, his education and background do not seem out of line for the job he has been appointed to.

by DaleNC on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 07:14:13 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

OK...fair enough (none / 0)

thanks for a little enlightening.

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:29:23 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Please recommend, the SCLM might even (none / 0)

understand the problem here if they find out about it.

by Thistime on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 08:12:48 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Theresa A. Toigo Is Appointed Acting Director (none / 0)

of FDA's Office of Women's Health

The FDA is reporting it is someone else, what's up?

by Thistime on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 08:38:34 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

They appointed Norris BEFORE (none / 0)

this women.

When the Press Release hit the wires, MS Magazine and Planned Parenthood picked up on it and immediately questioned.

and...suddenly...the feds immediately nominated someone else!

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:11:40 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

update (none / 0)

uh-oh the update above needs updated:

Update [2005-9-18 21:52:5 by VirginiaDem]: Or did they?:....

now the link is saying:

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Theresa A. Toigo
Acting Director, Office of Women's Health
Food and Drug Administration
Parklawn Building, Room 14C06
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
301-827-4460 phone
E-mail: theresa.toigo@fda.hhs.gov

or am i reading this wrong?

by sc kitty on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:14:30 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

There's a screen shot (none / 0)

over at skippy's

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:30:52 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

That seems to sum up (4.00 / 3)

the republicans' view of women pretty well. I.e. all women need is a bit of god directed mating and everything will be fine.

by nwskinner on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:31:50 PM PDT

Worse. (4.00 / 8)

Women are animals. That's what this appointment says.

The last time people listened to a talking bush, they wandered 40 years in the desert.

by DC Pol Sci on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:17:42 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

It appears to me... (none / 1)

A rare moment of honesty about the Republican Party's view of women.

The Shapeshifter's Blog -- Politics, Philosophy, and Madness!

by Shapeshifter on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 12:33:05 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Animal Husbandry?! (none / 0)

Did Santorum recommend this guy?

by wardeo on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 02:29:42 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Deoes Santorum (none / 0)

"Know" him? (in the biblical sense)

Comforting the Afflicted and Afflicting the Comfortable Whenever Possible

by RevDeb on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 06:39:52 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Reminds me of Tom Lehrer's fictional Hen3ry... (none / 0)

...who "majored in animal husbandry until they caught him at it one day."

The last time people listened to a talking bush, they wandered 40 years in the desert.

by DC Pol Sci on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 02:51:07 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

I may be a bitch (4.00 / 31)

but this is ridiculous!

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:32:33 PM PDT

Er, um, I think the proper term is (4.00 / 3)

Woman of backbone and candor.

by fouro on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:25:12 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

LOL (4.00 / 2)

backbone and candor maybe, but my effing potty mouth makes me a bitch.I have a T-shirt that says,

I AM A BITCH

DON'T FUCK WITH ME

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:45:51 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Heh, WOBAC was from dear departed Mom... (none / 0)

When she said it, we knew what she meant based on the head tilt. Tilt = step off. An nod = you go girl.

We miss you, Mom.

by fouro on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:02:26 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Whoa! (none / 1)

Funniest. Comment. Ever.

"We need a war to show 'em that we can do it whenever we say we need a war." -- Fischerspooner

by bink on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:55:02 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Why thank you sir or madam (none / 1)

I see you are a person of impecible taste.

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:00:21 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Well, what do you expect? (4.00 / 8)

The people in power pay lip service to the radical Christian right that views women as chattel. We're no more important than a cow or pig, except as live baby incubators. This is disgusting and outrageous.

I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!!!

I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!!!!

by Morrigan on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:33:41 PM PDT

Well, what do you expect? (none / 1)

He appoints his friends. Why would competent, brilliant people hang out with George Bush?

You're a Republican until it happens to you.

by nape on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:36:18 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Another one of their vicious insults. (4.00 / 2)

I hate these people.

Who knew?

by 2lucky on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:34:19 PM PDT

He knows all about dem bitches... (4.00 / 5)

Just sayin'...

Visit Satiric Mutt -- my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:37:26 PM PDT

He's gonna find out (none / 1)

all about us bitches, that's for sure!

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:44:46 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Hey buddy (none / 0)

Do I correctly remember you as a big Galloway enthusiast? He's going to be on Bill Maher this coming week.

If I got you completely mixed up with someone else, then in Emily Litella's immortal words, never mind

by sharman on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:05:05 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Thats Mrs. Buddy (none / 0)

to you, son.

Yes, I am a Galloway fan. And thanks for the info. However, I don't have the channel that Bill Maher is on. HBO? My email is public here. Let me know how you liked it, if you watch?

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:41:45 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

I can see it now (4.00 / 11)

Instead of promoting more and better usage of birth control, he'll suggest spaying and neutering.

...slamming head repeatedly on desk...make it stop, please

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. --Abraham Lincoln

by thebes on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:38:23 PM PDT

From these clowns (none / 0)

what I find more likely is mandatory 'artificial' insemination of any woman who manages to go say three whole months without being pregnant. Seems to better fit that "be fruitful and multiply" shtick.

by SuthernAhia on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:28:30 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

any white woman, you mean (none / 0)

nonwhites will be sterilized.

by dinazina on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:10:06 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Yeah... (none / 0)

Them purebreds are valuable. Can't let 'em go around interbreedin' and stuff. At least, not unless it's one of them fancy new "designer mutts" that're all the rage these days.

(As an aside: I think i have officially managed to sicken myself...)

The Shapeshifter's Blog -- Politics, Philosophy, and Madness!

by Shapeshifter on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 12:41:55 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

I have a post on this (4.00 / 3)

up at skippy the bush kangaroo

I couldn't freaking believe it.

I'm going to be making some calls tomorrow...including my two female Senators.

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:40:04 PM PDT

Me too (4.00 / 2)

I'm going to call Collins and Snow. This is war!

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:42:34 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Shut up! (4.00 / 5)

How can this be true? If I wasn't so scared for my life and the life of my daughter, I would be laughing hysterically at the absurdity. Can you say Handmaid's Tale?

by LatidaSothere on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:40:51 PM PDT

FDA Litmus Test (none / 1)

Dr. Alderson, please look at these photos of various holes and correctly indentify the photo of a human vagina.

To claim secular societies are rejecting God, is to concede that religious societies are rejecting reality.

by Kudos on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:49:24 PM PDT

oh please... (none / 0)

even a priest knows what a human vagina looks like. make him draw out the celluar structure of at least one form of breast cancer and I"ll be impressed.

I can't wait til they start making us wear armbands.

by DawnG on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:08:41 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Priests? (none / 0)

They do? The priest I used to know was too busy shtumping the alter boys to pay any attention to anything female. Ah well, maybe they have had more training nowadays.

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:11:28 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Vet? Makes sense. (4.00 / 5)

Shrubco had to go outside the species to beat David Hager, appointed to head the FDA panel on women's health, who was called "scantily credentialed" by Time's Karen Tumulty.

Jesus and the FDA
By KAREN TUMULTY
Saturday, Oct. 05, 2002

A quiet battle is raging over the Bush Administration's plan to appoint a scantily credentialed doctor, whose writings include a book titled As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now, to head an influential Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel on women's health policy. Sources tell Time that the agency's choice for the advisory panel is Dr. W. David Hager, an obstetrician-gynecologist who also wrote, with his wife Linda, Stress and the Woman's Body, which puts "an emphasis on the restorative power of Jesus Christ in one's life" and recommends specific Scripture readings and prayers for such ailments as headaches and premenstrual syndrome. Though his resume describes Hager as a University of Kentucky professor, a university official says Hager's appointment is part time and voluntary and involves working with interns at Lexington's Central Baptist Hospital, not the university itself. In his private practice, two sources familiar with it say, Hager refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women. Hager did not return several calls for comment.

Vice harms the doer ~ Socrates

by kdub on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:54:17 PM PDT

Wasn't he the dude (4.00 / 8)

who explained his penchant for forcing anal sex on his wife while she slept, as an innocent mistake, just got the wrong hole? A gynecologist, this.

by sharman on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:07:37 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

That wasn't him (none / 1)

it was just Jesus caring for her while she slept.

by nwskinner on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 10:47:03 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

puts a different spin (none / 0)

on the phrase...

HOLY OLD KNOTHOLE!

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:15:41 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

THis is NOT funny (4.00 / 7)

This is so very much disheartening that I do not know what to do... or where to go.

I have 2 daughters, both reaching adulthood, and they have just been dissed... chattle, fuck....

I was reading about the Peach and Justice center here in Memphis, just before I read this post..

Peace and Justice are pie in the sky dreams, we need to do what ever it takes to get rid of these people who think so little of women. And, I do not beleive that protest and boycotts are going to do it.

Again, I say it is time to march to Washington with pitchfork. We just do not stand a chance if we are not willing to confront them with something they understand. If we do not understand, that to them the END always justfy the means, and we always want to play fair, WE will never win... they will just keep changing the rules.

Wake up, before it is to late for everyone of us,. or atleast those who are not Rich, Male, and White.

by jeeugena on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:56:16 PM PDT

I thought of some funny things to say, BUT... (none / 0)

... they weren't funny. So for a change, I'm not saying them. So if you're reading this, your day is already headed in the right direction.

You are right. One thing I try to push, is the reproductive freedom vs. reproductive slavery frame, to counter the pro-life, pro-choice frame. I think life begins when people learn how to mind their own business.

Chattel is what should come to mind when you think of where in the hell these people get off telling people what kind of medical procedures our doctors may and may not use. To them, reproductive freedom is their freedom to make us all breed properly as they see it. To us, reproductive freedom means standing a decent shot at getting the things a kid needs, like health insurance.

What I think we should all do: Know where you stand. Constitutionalize the right to choose in cases of rape and incest first, and expand the right from there. Make them take a stand for rape and incest. This "partial birth" abortion invention of theirs is a perfect example of what framing the debate can win your side, when you make the frame.

by kazoo of the north on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 08:12:06 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

they'd just shoot us (none / 0)

or throw us in jail forever.

we do need a leader on our side to stand behind and fight - fight not write, fight not vote, fight not debate - fight to the end. they are killing us slowly and not even legally, what are we waiting for?

Do you respect life? Do you eat meat? Respecting only human life is like respecting only white people.

by leftout on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:16:48 PM PDT

I have a plan (4.00 / 2)

I'm an old broad and in case I get a terminal illness, I say ...

If you have to go, take sombody with you.

Now, if only AARP would consider this part of their program and do teach-ins, it just might work.

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:21:17 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Hey...We should call Dr. Dean! (4.00 / 6)

Let him know!

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:18:56 PM PDT

What is your PROBLEM, people?? (3.91 / 12)

You know, maybe the Republicans are right and we are anti-military. So just because a guy served in the military, he's somehow unfit to direct the women's health program? You should be aware that many former soldiers, Marines, etc., have led dignified careers as public servants. Heck, we even nominated one last year as our nominee for president.

So I think it's about time that we stop bashing our military and...

wait...what?

oh.

Are you shitting me???

"I told them on Inauguration Day. I said look into my eyes: no new enhancements." - President Johnny Gentle (Famous Crooner)

by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:22:36 PM PDT

Nope (4.00 / 12)

Went in for a pelvic the other day and I swear that the guy pulled the glove on up to his shoulder.

And there was straw all over the floor.

Bush's America.

IMPEACH

by rhubarb on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:26:40 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

That's nothing (4.00 / 5)

I've been taking supplements for bone and joint health. I found out that this was developed by a vet for dogs!

It works great but now every time I pass a fire hydrant .....

IMPEACH

by Maine Atticus on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:37:04 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

A vet??!! (none / 1)

A fucking vet? Once again I'm shocked, how can I be shocked? Do these people know no shame? What am I talking about, of course not. Fuckers.

Say no to Domino's!

by high uintas on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:25:40 PM PDT

It's old news... (4.00 / 6)

After Planned Parenthood noticed this, the FDA changed the new head to Theresa Toiga. She is not a vet. Check out www.FDA.gov. Salon had an article on this yesterday.

by hopewell on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:27:47 PM PDT

It's not old news to DHHS (4.00 / 2)

apparently they didn't get the memo....

They have him listed as the Acting Director.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Dr. Norris Alderson
Acting Director, Office of Women's Health
Associate Commissioner for Science
Food and Drug Administration
Parklawn Building, Room 14C06
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
301-827-3340 phone
301-827-3042 fax
E-mail: norris.alderson@fda.hhs.gov

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:40:49 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Toiga not a vet, but... (none / 0)

I'm curious about her training as well. She is listed by the FDA as Theresa Toiga RPh, MBA. It looks as though she was trained as a Pharmacist and also got a business degree. She appears to have quite a bit of experience in topics related to methods for conducting clinical trials. But her record in contributing to research projects of any kind, much less in topics related to Women's Health, is meager at best.

Is it really that difficult for the FDA to find someone who has displayed substantial competence in Women's Health to be appointed to this post??

Oh, I forgot. Competence is a reality-based conceit.

by ChemGeek on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 12:48:01 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

should be Toigo (none / 0)

Correction -- proper spelling is Theresa A. Toigo. Comments still apply.

by ChemGeek on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 12:51:36 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Check out this Google cashe from yesterday. (none / 0)

He was Acting Director then

Today he's gone. Orwell would be proud.

by Thistime on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 08:57:05 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Hey...there's ANOTHER VETERINARIAN (4.00 / 7)

on board at the FDA Women's Health!

Oh...My...God

(pdf file)

Linda R. Tollefson, Assistant Commissioner for Science. Most Recently, Tollefson served as Deputy Director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:48:49 PM PDT

Wait, You Mean There Are Unqualified People... (4.00 / 5)

...in this administration?

Russ Feingold for President!

by Basil on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:49:46 PM PDT

How in the World (4.00 / 2)

did this man get promoted to this position?!Whose "loyal pal" is he? What's the history of this appointment?

If I'm going to write LTE's, write to my Senators, my representative, and my mother (a Republican who will be furious at this - along with all her friends), I need to know whether this is just another sloppy rewarding of somebody's friend or something much more malicious.

(-5.25, -7.95) "Self-respect is a question of recognizing that anything worth having has a price." - Joan Didion

by SueDe on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:51:10 PM PDT

Hey... women, dogs... (none / 0)

cows... broodmares... it's all the same to the American Taliban and their political supporters in the White House (and soon to be in the Supreme Court).

The 10,000 Things

by Andrew C White on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:59:44 PM PDT

And Macha (4.00 / 3)

rose up and cursed the men of Ulster tht for seven times seven generations that in the hour of their greatest need they would be a helpless as women in childbirth. A curse is the least these reactionary bigots deserve. I love my local vets (women all) but this is beyound demeaning. Social justice is not possible unless women have reproductive freedom and I am convinced assaulting Wade vs Roe is just the start of taking it away in this country. I really fear for my daughter and granddaughter.

Theocracy is tyranny

by Druidica on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:20:22 PM PDT

As I noted on my blog... (none / 1)

There's a Barbera Bush joke in there somewhere...

"It's better to realize you're a swan than to live life as a disgruntled duck."

by Mumon on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:24:20 PM PDT

Ok ok, let me try (4.00 / 3)

Something something, since women in Bush's America are underprivileged anyway, this will work out well for them

by sharman on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:10:19 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Guess where Commish of FDA is speaking on Oct. 6 (none / 1)

Dr. Lester Crawfor, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administraiton, will speak at 11:30 a.m. Oct.6 at the Fall Conference for Veterinarians at Oklahoma State University.
Crawford, a veterinarian, will speak on "Drug Use, Approval and Regulation in Veterinary Medicine."
For more information on the conference, visit www.cvm.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7672
per NewsOK.com (reg.req.)

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. (official bio)

yep...it's veterinary cronyism.

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:27:17 PM PDT

Actually, he isn't even a vet.. (4.00 / 6)

he does not list Doctor of Veterinary Medicine among his degrees...he is basically has a PhD.,in Animal Husbandry, which is a long way from being a vet. Not that I think a vet belongs in that position, mind you, but vets go to school longer than doctors and are qualified in multiple species, unlike MDs. This guy isn't a vet, he is a farmer with a bunch of degrees. Animal Husbandry covers a lot of territory, it's crops, what to grow for which animal, how to process and feed them, what kind of cow to breed to what kind of bull(or chicken, or pig, or sheep) to get the type you want..etc. etc. He isn't a vet, he is just a farmer with a string of letters after his name. Same with that Linda person mentioned down thread..not a DVM, just worked in veterinary departments doing administrative stuff. That's a long way from being a practicing vet..who for the most part are very good doctors.

What happens when Bush takes Viagra? he gets taller. Robin Williams

by Demfem on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:30:40 PM PDT

Animal Husbandry and Women's Health? (none / 1)

with a little "counter terrorism" thrown in for good measure? And speaking at a "law and technology Conference" at Stanford?

Norris Alderson, Associate Commissioner for Science, FDA
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.

and what the hell is "Office of Orphan Products Development"?

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:43:21 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

An "orphan" drug or product is (4.00 / 3)

one that is only needed by a small number of people. Like the drugs for Tourette's, and other afflictions that can't be sold by the drug companies to the general population for lots of diseases. Cancer drugs are profitable because lots of people get cancer, and will pay anything to not die from it. Drugs for depression are used enmasse, as are the ED drugs. Drugs for things that people used to handle with diet and self-control also make lots of money. An orphan drug is used by a small segment of the population who need it for a condition that is usually congenital. Therefore, it is not profitable, so no one wants to develop it.

What happens when Bush takes Viagra? he gets taller. Robin Williams

by Demfem on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:00:23 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Actually a good thing (4.00 / 2)

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.

by jeeugena on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:02:05 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

orphan products (4.00 / 2)

are actually really important: they're drugs for diseases too rare (=market too small) to be developed profitably -- it generally costs a couple hundred mil to bring a drug to market.

. . . son of a . . .

googling just now to give you a link, i found this:

Orphan Products: New Hope for People with Rare Disorders, an FDA press release about the Orphan Products program, talking about a new drug that they were helping bring to market for which poor BigPharm otherwise would never, ever have been able to afford all the testing.

the drug? Botox.

If I can't dance, it's not my revolution. -- Emma Goldman.

by DoctorScience on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:05:41 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Can someone check? (4.00 / 8)

The way his degrees are worded is strange, I will even go so far as to say that they appear to be covering something up. I say this because an "expert on evolution" (a creationist) spoke at my school a time back. In his resume, it was noted that he had a BS in Biology and a PhD. But what the PhD was in, was not mentioned. (It was Divinity, I believe)
Here it says he has a BS in Animal Husbandry from Kentucky and a Masters and a Doctorate from Tennessee. Now 99 out of a 100 times, a person puts down what they have their PhD in. Since Animal Husbandry was already broached, it's not like it could be more embarrassing.
I'm guessing Masters and PhD in Theology?
And, as the person above said, he's not vet. (I would pick a lot of vets over a lot of doctors, but hey, that's just me.)

by everybody knows on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:58:08 PM PDT

Good catch (none / 0)

Every rock needs to be turned over and over.

And backtracked for the set-up. Looks like some of these appointments have been in the pipe for a while.

Energy and information are the primary elements of the universe.

by walkshills on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 10:40:33 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Checked the Literature (4.00 / 4)

A quick evaluation at ISI's "Web of Science" is informative.
Dr. Alderson appears to have had an undistinguished research career in Animal Science and Animal Nutrition. He has only one publication in the scientific literature that has more than 10 citations (J. of Nutrition, 1971). His expertise seems to have been in the area of vitamin supplements and dietary variations in farm animals. Over the last 25 years he is an author of a total of one scientific or medical journal article (J. of Food Protection, 1984).

I should point out that his responsibilities include:

Orphan Products Development -- his record shows no contributions in pharmaceuticals of any kind

Women's Health -- his record shows no contributions in this field

Office of Good Clinical Practice -- his record shows no contributions to journals devoted to clinical research or practice

In sum, his publication record further establishes that his training was solely in animal science, and that his record in this field was not distinguished.

by ChemGeek on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:37:20 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Doesn't surprise me at all. (none / 0)

The present national incarnation of the GOP wants women to produce surplus labor and strong young men and women for wars. It makes sense that a VET would be the head of women's health at the FDA...

Tomorrow belongs to me.

Pray for my Beloved Country

by lubarsh on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:04:06 PM PDT

Good Point (none / 0)

You are right on and the title of his specialty, Animal Husbandry, sums it up perfectly. By the way it is formally defined as:

"breeding and caring for farm animals."

Just keep producing enough bodies so that we have enough servants and troops to support the neo-cons world view.

by nwskinner on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:24:13 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

One bitch in heat (none / 0)

is just like another.

If not me, who? If not now, when?

by rcvanoz on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:18:18 PM PDT

That's no way to speak of (4.00 / 3)

Barbara Bush....

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:23:02 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Ha! Hahahaha! (4.00 / 12)

I told my husband about this and he hung his head and looked disgusted for a moment. Then he walked over, touched my nose and said, "Cool and moist. It's okay, honey, you're going to be just fine."

That's why I married the man. He can see your outrage and raise ya some humor!

This admistration sucks. That's all.

George W. Bush deserves a fair trial.

by CJB on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:40:35 PM PDT

Bitches, Nags, Cows & Sows (4.00 / 5)

The id of the Bush administration has made its Freudian slip, and now we know that their views on women make Rick Santorum's look like Eve Ensler's.

Freedom Camp!

by The Bartender on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:45:11 PM PDT

Perhaps BushCo is acknowledging (none / 0)

that we're all really animals and humans are not divine creations?

Score one for the evolutionists!

Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else. --Will Rogers

by groggy on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 10:59:56 PM PDT

No, (none / 0)

Just the women. Men are made in the image of Gawd, dontchaknow! Only the women are animals.

GOP = Spies, lies, borrowing & binging.
Enough Is Enough 2006!
Econ: -4.63 Soc: -6.92

by MamasGun on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 11:08:24 PM PDT
[ Parent ]

Touched by HIS noodly appendage (none / 1)

Flying Spaghetti Monster

by raines on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 05:31:41 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Excellent. (none / 0)

Good to see a fellow Pirate around these parts.

www.acesigma.com

by Ace Sigma on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 06:21:53 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

So...THAT explains (none / 0)

male genatalia....

noodle + meatballs.

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:12:47 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Okay, the important thing here, (4.00 / 7)

and please excuse me if I missed it upthread, is that someone needs to sit down and sort through all of Bush's appointments. Let's expose this administration for what it is. Do they have any competent people at any level, people whose salaries are being paid by American taxpayers?

by k2winters on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 12:16:00 AM PDT

Even the vets can't get it right... (none / 0)

Deer on birth control still getting pregnant

... and you were expecting what, exactly, from the government?

www.acesigma.com

by Ace Sigma on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 06:23:55 AM PDT

Every time I think I can't get more incensed... (none / 0)

I'm completely wrong.

I agree that you really can't make a much clearer statement as to what this admin thinks about women than with this appointment.

One thing -- women, as 52% of the population, should NOT put up with this sort of treatment. Women are the slight MAJORITY in this country. Women have the responsibility to shout down this administration and not tolerate being treated like breeding stock. Short of that, well, when they come to put the burkha on you, sister, remember you had the opportunity to make real change but squandered it.

by Janusdog on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 06:41:10 AM PDT

I suggest (none / 0)

we all call our 'favorite' veterinarian to voice our displeasure.

by xyz on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 07:12:40 AM PDT

Dr. Doolittle stays out of politics (none / 0)

That's what my dog tells me.

Mars, Bitches!

by JessicaDrewSW on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 07:54:37 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Do I see an interesting pattern here? (none / 1)

Brownie was involved with horses, this guy is a vet... Maybe it's this entire Republican fascination with "man on dog" intercourse and all... Does George W. Bush ahve sme sort of sick fascination for people who work around animals? Or, after spending so much time around Karl Rove he can no longer tell the difference between snakes and real people?

Pennacchio for Pennsylvania

by PAprogressive on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 07:15:50 AM PDT

And remember... (none / 0)

Bushie "milked" a male horse.

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:14:20 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Since this has hung around for a time. . . (none / 0)

Could virginia dem please change the title. The man is not a veterinarian. A degree in Animal Husbandry does not make you a veteranarian. A veterinarian degree (DVM) is not a PhD.

The blurb doesn't state what field his PhD was in. Checking the current listings for UK Graduate School, they offer 15 degree programs for Agriculture alone. (There were probably much fewer in the 60s).

http://www.research.uky.edu/gs/gradprogs.html

Since they do not offer a PhD in Animal Husbandry, the two degrees that would most match his early jobs and his research would be Veterinary Sciences (again, this would not make him a veterinarian) or Animal Sciences.

To quote the opening sentence from the UK Grad Program in Veterinary Sciences:
"The overall goal of the research program in Veterinary Science has been to improve our understanding of the biology of Equidae." (horses)

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/VetScience/textpages/grad_studies.htm

Is there some horsy-mafia in important posts in Washington?

by everybody knows on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 07:58:10 AM PDT

I think this guy has a DVM IF (none / 0)

you believe this. I find it a curious set of qualifications, too, but I don't appoint these guys. Horse judges: they make good appointments for W as well.

by kazoo of the north on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 08:20:08 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

The link you gave (none / 0)

is for Crawford, not for Alderson. Crawford is a DVM, but was never appointed head of Women's Health. I also notice in the above link Alderson's name is not mentioned as acting director.

by everybody knows on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 09:18:45 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Yep, sloppy reading on my part (none / 0)

and sloppy googling. Bad of me. Anybody got an Alderson bio?

by kazoo of the north on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:14:59 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

I give up (none / 0)

From what Salon says I should just crawl back into the wood work for trying to hit this moving target, and learn to love the chaos. I don't know how the deep link might work for you, but one might try googling up Salon's "The Bush administration's love affair with animals" article. I'm done trying to make sense of this for myself.

by kazoo of the north on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:26:52 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Yes (none / 0)

William S. Farish, a long-time supporter of President Bush who was appointed by the President as Ambassador to Great Britain, is a millionaire horse-breeder. Ambassador Farish (who stepped down as Ambassador to Great Britain in 2004 to make way for an automobile dealer to take that post) also owns W. S. Farish & Co., a Houston trust company, that acted as trustee for the blind trust established by President George H. W. Bush.

Also, Senator Mitch McConnell is from Kentucky.

by eafredel on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 08:20:25 AM PDT
[ Parent ]

Figures.... (none / 0)

It isn't like there are any QUALIFIED female doctors to take the job.

Evidently, we have been subordinated to having our health managed by a vet.

I feel soooo special.

Sigh.

by serenegreen on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 08:27:32 AM PDT

Ask the PR Person for the FDA (none / 0)

Ms. Suzanne Trevino
301.827.6242
or her assistant Priscilla
301.827.6250

I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

by jillian on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 10:58:36 AM PDT