Marty Makary

Dr. Marty Makary is a British-American surgeon, professor, author, and public health commentator whose career spans clinical practice, academic leadership, and federal health policy. He practiced surgical oncology and gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, serving as Mark Ravitch Chair in Gastrointestinal Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and as chief of Islet Transplant Surgery. Makary pioneered advanced laparoscopic procedures, including the first laparoscopic Whipple and Frey's procedures at Johns Hopkins, and led the development of the Surgery Checklist in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

He received the Nobility in Science Award from the National Pancreas Foundation for performing the world's first series of laparoscopic pancreas islet transplant operations. Makary has contributed to major publications including Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and New York Times, and has published more than 250 scientific research articles. He has held leadership roles at the World Health Organization Patient Safety Program and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Health Leaders magazine recognized him as one of America's 20 most influential people in health care. Makary has also served as a visiting professor at 25 medical schools.

Makary is the author of the New York Times bestselling books "Unaccountable" and "The Price We Pay." "Unaccountable" was adapted into the TV show "The Resident," which ran for six seasons. His work on healthcare costs and transparency contributed to the development of the federal hospital price transparency rule, requiring U.S. hospitals to post cash prices for common shoppable services and insurance companies to disclose discounts. His book "Blind Spots" examines critical issues in medical consensus, highlighting cases where medicine has erred, such as the mischaracterization of opioid addiction and dietary fat.

Makary was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 27th Commissioner of Food and Drugs. He became known among Republicans as a critic of COVID-19 health measures during the pandemic, frequently appearing on Fox News Channel. As FDA commissioner, Makary focused on modernizing regulatory processes and implementing AI-assisted review tools. He worked to streamline agency operations, including consolidating voluntary reporting systems for drug, device, and vaccine side effects. Makary resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration after a 13-month tenure. Throughout his career, Makary has consistently advocated for transparency, patient safety, and public health in American medicine.