Adrienne Dukes, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Communications and Project Management, Public Affairs Branch, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

I’m a community-based educator. I share information, communicate and build relationships with consumers, health professionals, academia, media, industry, and Federal, State, and local officials to disseminate information on FDA's authority, education and outreach activities, and the products that FDA regulates. 

I love that I get the chance to interact directly with consumers. I once received a call from a nonprofit that provides weekend backpack meals and snacks to students in need within a local school system. The nonprofit partnered with a food bank to provide the care packages. Some of the food provided was past the expiration date and the school superintendent threatened to end the program. This was a food safety issue. I connected the nonprofit with a subject matter expert within FDA who provided a letter to the superintendent on how FDA views date labels on packaged foods. This way, she could make an informed decision on whether the program could continue to feed hungry kids. I get great satisfaction in being in a role where I can make a significant difference in someone’s life by sharing information that could lead them to make better health choices, and also serve the broader community. 

As a consumer, a mother, and the primary purchase decision maker for my household, I appreciate the recall and consumer updates FDA provides. It helps as I make decisions for my own family on what products to purchase (or avoid). I love that I get to share these updates with others, who may not be aware that they exist, as I perform my outreach duties so that they can keep their families safe too.

As a proud Howard University alumna, I credit my experience attending an Historically Black College and University for shaping who I am today. Beyond the education I received in the classroom, I gained a sense of confidence that I could achieve anything with hard work and persistence. That sureness has helped me to take chances in my career and various positions within the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA). I also incorporate my love of photography within my position in ORA. I’ve taken professional headshots of colleagues and FDA leaders over the years as well as provided event and print photography support for the Agency.

I am Adrienne Dukes and #IAmORA.