David McMullen, MD, Recruited as Director, Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices (OHT5), FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)

Life Science Partner has recruited David McMullen, MD, to serve as Director for The Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices (OHT5), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the Federal Drug Administration. The CDRH facilitates medical device innovation by advancing regulatory science, providing industry with predictable, consistent, transparent, and efficient regulatory pathways, and assuring consumer confidence in devices marketed in the U.S. The Office of Health Technology 5 (OHT5) is within CDRH’s Office of Product Evaluation and Quality (OPEQ) and is responsible for the total product life cycle review of neurological and physical medicine devices.

As Director for OHT5, McMullen will serve as the technical authority and principal advisor to the OPEQ Director on the total product lifecycle of devices including premarket evaluation, compliance and quality, and surveillance programs for neurological products. 

Since 2016, McMullen has served as the Program Chief for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) within the Neuromodulation and Neurostimulation Program, Division of Translational Research (DTR). His oversight included device development and biomarker discovery grants as well as clinical trials ranging from first-in-human to critical studies designed to gain FDA regulatory approval. McMullen’s experience includes acting as co-leader for the NIH BRAIN Initiative team and as the NIMH point of contact to the FDA on devices.

“McMullen’s neurovascular and neurostimulation expertise combined with his working relationships within the FDA make him a natural fit for his new leadership role at the Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices,” states Tom Callaway, MD, MBA, Founder of Life Science Partner. In his new role at OHT5, McMullen will be tasked with navigating the complexities and multiple constituencies of the FDA’s neuroscience device regulatory division and industry agencies while managing a 90 plus person office.

McMullen earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from Duke University and his Doctor of Medicine from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

About Life Science Partner Executive Search

Life Science Partner is a specialized executive search firm that recruits transformational leaders for healthcare and life sciences companies. Our high-touch, partner-led process ensures an exceptional level of service, while our backgrounds in medicine, science, and industry enable us to efficiently deliver the brightest candidates in the medical device, biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and healthcare technology fields.