I usually write a little funny or fanciful poem at this time of year but what can we say about the first eleven months of 2025 that makes us want to even smile? Many longtime FDA friends and colleagues have left the Agency. The FDA has been under significant stress from RIFs, firings, and layoffs, all resulting in a massive brain drain. People were not getting paid during the shutdown, right in time for the holidays. How stressful is that?
While Thanksgiving is a fun holiday, it’s also a time for reflection and giving thanks. I think, with the turbulence in Washington, the nation, the pharmaceutical industry, and at the FDA, all we can do this year is have hope that the nation can find a way to get back on course. What can we be thankful for this year? We have our relations with colleagues, friends, and family. This year we can celebrate our future knowing that all of us in the pharmaceutical and allied health-related industries strive daily to make the future better for the patients we all serve.
It’s a tough year for many people who have lost their jobs or who can’t afford the necessities of life. Let’s remember them this holiday season and offer a helping hand and some kindness. Take the time to make someone’s day. If you do, you’ll be practicing the true meaning of Thanksgiving. If you can pay it forward this year, even in a tiny way, Thanksgiving will live in all of us. Have a great holiday, be safe, and we’ll see you after we survive the food coma that’s right around the corner.
