President Donald Trump has selected White House health-policy adviser Heidi Overton as his nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Bloomberg first reported the selection late Tuesday, with Reuters sources corroborating the news. If confirmed by the Senate, Overton will take over an agency that is rebuilding after former Commissioner Marty Makary’s resignation and significant staff reductions.

Overton’s Policy Background

Overton serves as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, where she has helped vet major health-policy decisions. She previously served as chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute and vice chair of its Center for a Healthy America. A physician board-certified in public health and general preventive medicine, she trained in surgery and clinical investigation at Johns Hopkins.

Her academic connection overlaps with Makary, who taught surgery and health policy at Johns Hopkins. The pair co-wrote a 2017 BMJ opinion piece arguing that surgeons’ prescribing practices helped fuel the opioid epidemic. Overton had previously emerged on a three-person shortlist for the FDA post.

Agency Rebuilding Efforts

If confirmed, Overton would inherit an FDA that has lost more than 3,000 employees and division leaders over the past year. Officials stated in June that the agency was hiring about 2,200 people after the cuts disrupted regulatory deadlines and drug reviews.

Makary resigned in May after 13 months at the FDA following clashes with White House and health officials over drug, vaccine, and vaping policy. Days after his exit, acting drug-center chief Tracy Beth Hoeg was also forced out. Since then, acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas has reopened regulatory paths for several rare-disease therapies, including a reconsideration of Regenxbio’s gene therapy.

Vaccine Policy Scrutiny

Overton appeared at a White House event last week as Trump announced changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. This issue is likely to draw scrutiny during her confirmation process. The policy shift had already sparked debate over the administration’s vaccine agenda. Benzinga reached out to the White House and the FDA for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Heidi, an AI Care Partner used in around 2.7 million patient interactions globally each week, has formed its inaugural United States Customer Advisory Board to integrate frontline clinician expertise into its product development strategy. The board consists of 12 physicians and clinical leaders who will guide the design and deployment of Heidi’s technology as the platform expands across U.S. health systems. This move responds to accelerating AI adoption in healthcare, where physician use of AI in clinical practice more than doubled between 2023 and 2026, according to the American Medical Association. With 85% of physicians stating they want to be consulted on AI adoption, the board provides a formal mechanism for providers to shape the product’s direction.

The advisory board spans diverse specialties including primary care, behavioral health, gastroenterology, orthopedics, urology, and podiatry. Members practice across large health systems, rural clinics, and independent practices, ensuring a broad range of clinical perspectives informs Heidi’s roadmap. The group’s mandate includes reviewing upcoming features, ensuring products reflect actual care practices, and shaping the company’s strategic direction beyond ambient documentation. This structure allows Heidi to evolve from an AI scribe into a comprehensive care partner while maintaining alignment with clinical realities.

Board Composition

The founding members bring varied operational experience from leading health organizations:

Product Impact and Strategy

The board’s insights will directly influence key products such as Heidi Scribe and Heidi Evidence. Heidi Scribe recently reduced after-hours documentation for 74% of clinicians during a rollout at Beth Israel Lahey Health, demonstrating the potential for administrative burden reduction. Heidi Evidence provides transparent, citation-backed clinical guidance at the point of care, aiming to support decision-making without disrupting workflow. Jessie Young, president of Heidi, emphasized that the board ensures every new capability fits naturally into clinical workflows. "Healthcare AI should be built alongside the clinicians who rely on it every day," Young stated, noting the importance of grounding tools in the realities of modern patient care.

What the Numbers Show

The formation of this board highlights a strategic shift from technology-led development to clinician-co-created solutions. With 85% of physicians demanding involvement in AI adoption, Heidi’s engagement of 12 specialized practitioners signals a recognition that user trust is a critical driver of market penetration. The specific focus on reducing after-hours documentation, evidenced by the 74% reduction at Beth Israel Lahey Health, suggests that immediate value propositions centered on time savings are prioritizing over broader, less tangible AI capabilities. This approach may mitigate resistance to AI integration by addressing the most acute pain points in clinical workflows first.