Press
January 9, 2025
For Immediate Release
The Alliance for a Stronger FDA Announces New Leadership Team for 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 09, 2025 — The Alliance for a Stronger FDA, a non-profit coalition that advocates for increased FDA appropriations, announced today that a new leadership team will be heading the Alliance starting in January 2025.
Cartier Esham, PhD., CEO of Esham Strategies will serve as the Alliance’s new Executive Director. Dr. Esham is a policy leader, recognized for her advocacy for a science-based FDA regulatory environment. Before founding Esham Strategies, she was the Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. In that role, she oversaw multiple BIO departments and was responsible for many of the organization’s public affairs initiatives. Dr. Esham holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Georgia.
In addition, the Alliance announced it had selected Washington, D.C.-based firm SL Strategies, as its new team for lobbying and appropriation expertise. Led by Sara Love Rawlings, a former Senate Appropriations staff member, Jordan Tenenbaum and Mary Moody Johnson, SL Strategies brings over 40 years of appropriations, agency budget and authorizing experience and insights into the evolving and increasingly dynamic government funding process.
Dr. Esham succeeds Steven Grossman, who has served as the Alliance Executive Director for the past 4 years and previously served in leadership roles since the Alliance was founded 18 years ago. Mr. Grossman informed the Alliance six months ago of his intention to take on new FDA-related challenges.
“Steven Grossman, one of the Alliance founders, has been an extraordinary leader and advocate for the Alliance since its inception. His contribution to increasing FDA’s funding is immeasurable,” said Tom Kraus of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, current Alliance president, and Esther Krofah of Milken Institute FasterCures, incoming president, in a joint statement.
“As a former member of the Alliance Board and an expert in association leadership and the FDA, Cartier Esham, is the perfect choice to continue building on Steven’s legacy,” they said. “Dr. Esham brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to advancing public health through robust FDA funding.
“The appointments of Dr. Esham and SL Strategies reflect the organization’s determination to adapt and evolve in an ever-changing policy landscape. With a new administration and new Congress now taking office, the Alliance remains committed to advocating for increased funding as well as educating about the central role FDA plays in protecting and advancing the public health and in maintaining the U.S.’s leadership role internationally,” they said.
The Alliance for a Stronger FDA represents 150-plus stakeholders – patient and consumer, research advocates, health professions societies, trade groups, and companies. The Alliance and its members advocate for increased funding for the agency. The Alliance also serves as an educational forum for the FDA.
For more information about the Alliance for a Stronger FDA and its mission, visit www.strengthenfda.org or reach out to Cartier Esham at Cartier@strengthenFDA.org.
Core Media Resources:
Media Resources:
1) Alliance’s Shutdown Tool Kit 2) Alliance Fact Sheet
3) FDA at a Glance
Media Contact:
Steven Grossman, JD
Executive Director
Tel: 301-539-9660
At the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, our mission goes beyond advocating for sufficient FDA funding. We are dedicated to educating the public, media, and policymakers about FDA's critical role in protecting and promoting America's public health.
That's why we recently (August ‘23) relaunched our website, www.strengthenfda.org. The new site provides an in-depth look at FDA's wide-ranging responsibilities, from overseeing food safety and approving life-saving drugs to regulating medical devices and biotech innovations.
Explore the site and you'll find a wealth of valuable resources:
The latest news and analysis in our Friday Update
Materials on FY20-FY24 budget and appropriations cycle
Full transcripts and recordings from our past webinars featuring FDA leaders
Fact sheets explaining the FDA's core functions
Links to key FDA data and documents
This is just the beginning. Our goal is to make the Alliance For a Stronger FDA the go-to source for media and the public to learn about the FDA. Let us know if you have suggestions for information related to the FDA's mission that could benefit your reporting.
Stay tuned as we continue expanding the site's content. With your help, we can showcase all the vital work FDA does to protect American lives.
Alliance for a Stronger FDA to Congress: FDA Needs Increased Funding to Meet Growing Demands
May 14, 2024 - In a letter to House and Senate appropriators, the Alliance for a Stronger FDA urged Congress to provide FDA with $3.9 billion for salaries and expenses (S&E). This is more than $200 million above the President’s FY 25 budget request and $377 million more than the current FY 24 funding level.
Alliance Analysis Of Proposed Final FY 24 Funding For The FDA
FDA’s FY 24 Appropriation is on track to become law before next week. Under the just-released bill, the agency would be level-funded for FY 24 (the current) year.
Highlighting Alliance’s FDA Shutdown Tool Kit
Our Tool Kit has been updated as of September 29th. We expect to update it on a regular basis until the threat of a shutdown has been eliminated.
Useful links to FDA’s website:
What does FDA do?
FDA at a Glance: Useful Facts about Products, Facilities, and Program Funding