Matt DeFina, MPH has a decade of experience at the FDA translating scientific, medical, and regulatory priorities to actionable initiatives as well as navigating Washington D.C.’s policy ecosystem and representing agency positions with industry, advocacy groups, trade associations, and other executive stakeholders.
Mr. DeFina was most recently the acting Deputy Chief of staff for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, where he led execution of CDER-wide strategy, translating leadership priorities into actionable initiatives that improved regulatory performance and organizational effectiveness. Prior to this role he was the Director of the special projects staff where he managed the CDER executive committee facilitating executive-level decision-making and ensuring implementation of cross-cutting regulatory and operational initiatives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic he led CDER’s supply chain resilience strategy, serving as an advisor to FDA leadership, the White House, and international regulatory partners, as well as representing FDA in national strategy forums and public-private partnerships focused on health system resilience, shaping national drug shortage and supply chain resiliency policy. He led analysis and authored the EO 14017 Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Report, delivering strategic recommendations on resiliency and innovation to improve global pharmaceutical supply chains.
Mr. DeFina started his FDA career as a Presidential Management Fellow where he led CDER budget policy activities developing materials and briefing senior leaders engaging with members of Congress. Prior to his time at FDA, Mr. DeFina was a consultant with Deloitte’s federal practice advising executive-level public and private sector leaders on enterprise strategy, policy innovation, and national transformation initiatives.
He received his MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a B.S. in biochemistry from Bates College.