AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and Chief Scientific Officer Ross McKinney Jr., MD, issued the following statement in response to the nomination of Arati Prabhakar, PhD, as White House Science Advisor and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP):
“The AAMC applauds the nomination of Arati Prabhakar, PhD, as President Biden’s Science Advisor and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Prabhakar’s decades of leadership and her multisector experience in government, academia, and the private sector make her an outstanding selection to guide the White House’s science priorities at a time when cooperation across the scientific enterprise is more critical than ever.
Dr. Prabhakar, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, is an accomplished scientist and admired leader who has served as director of both the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). She has a broad, future-oriented perspective on the interdisciplinary nature of science and technology and their power to transform lives and health. At DARPA, Dr. Prabhakar established the Biological Technologies Office, which later played a role in the development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. She has a deep understanding of how biomedical research and science contribute to life-saving scientific and medical advancements.
It is both notable and fitting for the first woman to receive a doctorate in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology to become the first woman to hold the Cabinet-level position of Science Advisor to the President.
Dr. Prabhakar is a distinguished leader with a wealth of experience and is the right person to join the President’s Cabinet and lead the OSTP. The AAMC is proud to support her nomination and looks forward to working with her and the rest of the team at OSTP to further the scientific advancements that promote a healthier future for all.”