Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, is the chief medical officer and executive vice president at Pfizer, where she oversees regulatory, pharmacovigilance, safety, epidemiology, and medical research functions. With more than 25 years of experience in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and R&D strategy, she has played a key role in advancing drug development and ensuring patient safety.

Before rejoining Pfizer, Dr. Cavazzoni served as the director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, where she led regulatory and policy decisions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Under her leadership, CDER modernized drug evaluation processes, supported public health initiatives, and fostered innovation in therapeutic development.

Her extensive pharmaceutical industry experience includes senior executive roles at Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi, where she led clinical sciences, safety risk management, and development operations. Throughout her career, she has been a key figure in shaping regulatory frameworks and driving advancements in drug safety and efficacy.

Dr. Cavazzoni earned her medical degree from McGill University and completed a residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in mood disorders at the University of Ottawa. She was also a faculty member at the University of Ottawa, where she conducted research on genetic predictors of bipolar disorder and worked in the Mood Disorders Program at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and remains a leading voice in medical innovation and regulatory science.