Attendees at this year’s CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), March 2-4, will look forward to insights offered by Scott Gottlieb, M.D., former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner.

Dr. Gottlieb, who led the FDA from 2017-2019, has helped create a phased roadmap for navigating COVID-19 and has been a frequent media resource on pandemic-related topics.

His presentation will include insights on how healthcare policies drive innovation, such as the COVID-19 vaccine, and the impact of vaccine access on credit unions’ frontline staff.

Gottlieb will bring some encouraging news. Along with a growing list of vaccines, the U.S. has more resiliency in fighting COVID-19, and he’s hopeful the country can return to some semblance of normalcy by summer.

“There's going to be this overlay of respiratory safety on top of our normal activity,” Gottlieb says. “I think a lot of normal activity is going to return with that heightened vigilance.”

During Gottlieb’s tenure with the FDA, the agency made critical strides in several areas, including gene therapies, cell-based regenerative medicine, and digital health devices. His policy priorities included reducing tobacco-related deaths and disease, improving food safety, and confronting the addiction crisis.

Typically held in Washington D.C., this year’s virtual conference will retain the key elements of the in-person conference: thought-provoking speakers, breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with lawmakers, business leaders, and credit union peers.

Gottlieb’s session is sponsored by Podium.