Tarver is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a doctorate in epidemiology and has held various leadership positions at the FDA as a medical device regulator, helping drive strategic initiatives, conduct clinical research and changing organizational culture.
The FDA has named Michelle Tarver, MD, PhD, as the permanent director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).
Tarver is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a doctorate in epidemiology and has held various leadership positions at the FDA as a medical device regulator, helping drive strategic initiatives, conduct clinical research and changing organizational culture.1
Under Tarver’s leadership, CDRH launched numerous efforts to amplify the perspectives of people living with medical conditions, foster collaboration across the health care ecosystem and stimulate creative evidence generation pathways.
"I am truly honored to lead CDRH and our talented staff across the Center who are committed to protecting and promoting public health," Tarver said in an FDA news release. “As someone who has served the FDA for more than 15 years, I am immensely proud of the work we have accomplished together, always keeping the people we serve at the core of our mission. As we embark on CDRH's next chapter, we remain committed in our service to public health and ensuring all patients in the U.S. have access to high-quality, safe and effective medical devices."
Tarver served as the deputy director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Technology Innovation, and the program director of Patient Science and Engagement.2
During her career, she has conducted laboratory-based and epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and surveys to capture patient preferences, as well as developed registries and patient-reported outcome measures.
Tarver received a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Spelman College in Atlanta and completed the MD/PhD program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. As an ophthalmologist, she continues to care for people living with inflammatory eye conditions.2