(August 15, 2023) The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA has selected Kendra Getaw, PharmD, as its 2023-24 Fellow in Regulatory Science, Innovation, and Health Equity. Her year-long role, which began July 2023, includes activities across the Foundation.

The Fellowship provides an opportunity for individuals to begin a career in regulatory science, while advancing diversity within the regulatory science workforce. The Regulatory Science, Innovation, and Health Equity Fellow will have the opportunity to grow a career in regulatory science and to build lasting professional relationships with regulatory science professionals throughout the Foundation’s stakeholder community.

Dr. Getaw, who recently earned a doctoral degree in Pharmacy from Howard University, has worked as a pharmacy technician for several years. She completed her Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, NY, as well as George Washington Faculty Associates and MedStar Health Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. Dr. Getaw also completed internships with CVS and Kappa Epsilon, a professional pharmacy fraternity.                                  

“Strengthening the diversity of our team will yield more meaningful outcomes—for our work, for the FDA, and for public health,” said Susan C. Winckler, RPh, Esq., CEO of the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA.  “We’re honored to welcome Dr. Getaw and to work alongside Howard University to strengthen equity in the regulatory science field.”  

Howard University, a historically black university and one of the nation’s leading research universities, assisted with the design of the Fellowship program and the selection of the 2023-24 Fellow. The school will continue to support future recruitment of students and alumni across Howard University health sciences programs and divisions, including Howard University Hospital and the Colleges of Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. 

“We’re pleased to partner with the Foundation to present this unique, real-world learning experience for students,” said Dr. Earl B. Ettienne, BSc Pharm, MBA, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs & Industrial Partnerships, Co-Chair Medical IRB, and Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy at Howard University. “We’ve long recognized the importance of regulatory science and the need to highlight career opportunities in such a rapidly evolving and impactful science sector.” 

The Fellowship in Regulatory Science, Innovation, and Health Equity is supported by BeiGene, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and Roche Diagnostics.