STAT+: How a young doctor rose from rural New Mexico to FDA commissioner nominee

WASHINGTON — In 2007, a freshman at the University of New Mexico told a journalist her dream was to become a doctor and return to her small hometown to practice medicine. “I would love to go back to Gallup,” Heidi Overton said in a story about a new program allowing undergraduates like her to apply to the university’s medical school early. Nearly 20 years later, Overton has not returned to Gallup, the city of 20,000 nestled along Route 66 where her father still leads a charismatic church. Instead, she’s leveraged her medical degree, rural background, and “calm, reasoned” work style into becoming the youngest-ever nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe