FDA and FDAAA to Collaborate on Pilot Alumni Advisor Program

FDAAA and FDA are partnering on a pilot “FDA Alumni Advisor Program” that will match selected Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) participants with former senior FDA leaders in a mentoring relationship.

The pilot program is part of the FDA’s Division of Human Resource Development’s (DHRD) Management and Leadership Development Program (MLDP).

The pilot program “draws on the leadership expertise of former FDA leaders and, via a one-on-one mentoring relationship, aids your career and leadership development,” FDA said in an announcement to ORA employees who may be interested in applying for the program. The mentor/advisors for the pilot program have been identified and include former regional and district directors.

The FDA announcement to employees said: “Once participants are selected and matched to advisors, their relationship will be facilitated via the Open Learning Network (OLN), email, telephone, and/or web conferencing. Participation will require a minimum of one to six hours per month, depending on competency improvements agreed to by the advisor and learner. All ORA managers and supervisors are eligible to participate, but only 30 participants (including alternates) will be selected for the pilot phase.”

The pilot program will begin June 15 and close December 18.

The pilot represents more than a year of collaboration and development by ORA staff and FDAAA representatives. The FDAAA team that worked with FDA in developing the program were Andy Bonanno and Dan Michels.

Nancy Myers, FDAAA chairman said: “This is a prime example of how FDAAA can work with the FDA on a program that enables alumni to contribute their experience, talent and wisdom, while helping FDA employees benefit from alumni experience. We are seeking other opportunities to collaborate with FDA.”

A mentoring relationship of the type envisioned by the pilot “can be very beneficial not only to the learner, who benefits from the advisor’s vast knowledge and experience, but also for the advisor, whose participation in the mentoring relationship can be deeply rewarding,” according to Bonanno.

If the pilot is successful and the program is formally adopted by FDA, the Alumni Association may seek more mentors in the future.

If you are interested in becoming a future mentor should the pilot be successful, please send an email with your name, year of retirement, and the title of the last position you held at FDA to: Andybonanno@earthlink.net