I woke up this morning to some sad news. Bob West, former Public Health Service officer who spent some 40+ years in government service, passed away yesterday. For those of you in the drug industry, the name Bob West meant a caring, rational, helpful individual.
Bob came to OGD after a stint with the Public Health Service’s hospitals and clinics and then after a number of years in New Drugs. He started in the Generics program shortly after the generic drug scandal and rose through the ranks to at become Deputy Director of OGD. Bob was known for his ability to ferret out problems and provide solutions. He was always available to speak with the industry, whether at conferences or over the phone. He brought a certain understanding of the industry to the job that allowed him to balance the strict regulatory requirements of the job with the industry’s need to know.
Bob was a colleague of mine throughout our FDA days and a longtime friend. He always had a kind word to say about everyone. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him. RIP, my friend.
