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  1. About FDA

David Arvelo, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Dallas Field Office

"I love working for FDA mostly because of its mission to protect and promote public health, including the health and wellbeing of its employees."
-- David Arvelo, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Dallas Field Office

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Q: How did your career begin at FDA?

David Arvelo: My FDA career started in the summer of 1990 in the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), Dallas District Office (DAL-DO), Laboratory Branch, Pesticides Residue Laboratory, working as a chemist. I performed a lot of sample prep and extractions for pesticide residue analysis. However, my specialty was high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of paraquat and diquat (herbicides) residues in fresh produce.

I’ve always had an aptitude for writing and communications. I also have an insatiable appetite for learning. My first detail in FDA was as management and program analyst in DAL-DO’s Administrative Branch. It was a good fit, so I applied for the permanent position and got it. I served in that capacity for 7 years. During that time, I managed the district’s intranet website, assumed the role of HIV/AIDS health fraud coordinator for the district, and held several brown bag lunch-and-learn trainings on using Microsoft Office products to make work easier, among other tasks and projects related to communications. I later became the small business representative (consumer safety officer) for the Southwest Region. In addition to answering small business inquiries, I presented in workshops, seminars, and other events geared toward small businesses regulated by FDA. I also organized FDA workshops for small businesses. I served in that position for 12 years until I laterally transferred to my current role, where I answer stakeholder inquiries, perform outreach, and assist ORA with internal communications.

Q: What are you most proud of in terms of your work at FDA?

DA: I am very proud of the consumer and industry outreach I perform as part of my duties in ORA. I hope my work results in more well-informed consumers and more compliant and innovative FDA-regulated products in the U.S. market.

Q: What advice would you give to an FDA job seeker?

DA: FDA jobs may not pay as much as private industry, but the employee benefits and the mission of the agency are far more rewarding.

Q: When you're not at work, what is your favorite way to unwind?

DA: I love running with my husband, reading, and watching movies.

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