May 9, 2025 | This article appears in Volume 61, Issue 1
[Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this invited article are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the ASP.]
Being a Program Officer at NCCIH for the past 16 years has been the most rewarding job I have ever held. The ability to shape priorities and support the ASP research community was enormously gratifying. During my tenure I watched as the number of ASP presentations and posters acknowledging NCCIH support went from minimal to substantial. Despite my high job satisfaction, I have always maintained a variety of interests and activities outside of my job with NCCIH. Additionally, the work environment has taken a dramatic turn for the worse recently. So, when presented with the “fork in the road” from the current administration, I decided to take the offer. As of March 7, I am no longer a federal employee.
I began my NIH career in January 2009 on the same day Barack Obama became president. That means I experienced a change of administration four separate times as the White House occupant rotated from Obama to Trump to Biden and now back to Trump. These changes were always accompanied by a degree of uncertainty as the new Executive and Legislative Branches implemented their priorities. However, nothing could have prepared me for what has occurred since Trump took office this past January.
The assault on the federal workforce and the work they do was immediate and unprecedented. The language used to describe me and my colleagues was insulting and demoralizing. Every other day there was a new executive order that completely upended existing policies and procedures. These tended to come without warning and without explanation. Work grounded to a halt as everyone waited for guidance on how to implement the latest directive. We could not have basic conversations with existing or prospective grantees. We could not travel to meetings. We could not give any presentations. We could not review applications. We could not make awards. There was genuine fear that one wrong move would be met with harsh consequences.
We could not have basic conversations with existing or prospective grantees. We could not travel to meetings. We could not give any presentations. We could not review applications. We could not make awards.
When the “deferred resignation” offer was first announced, I was immediately interested as a way to escape the hell my job had become. In exchange for submitting my resignation, I would leave my job in March but continue to get paid through the end of September. This seemed like a pretty good deal. Nevertheless, I spent several days agonizing over the decision. Did they have the authority to even make this offer? Would they really follow through on all the terms? These concerns had to be balanced against the real possibility that my job would be eliminated anyway if I decided to stay. I also had to figure out how I would support my family once the paychecks stopped coming in October. Ultimately, I chose to take the leap rather than stay and suffer through the abuse while hoping my job was spared. There are certainly risks with this path, but at least I am in control rather than being at the mercy of DOGE.
It is important to disclose at this point that I have always had a side business or two that allowed me to scratch my entrepreneurial itch. These have grown to the point they can provide enough income to meet my essential needs. This provided the luxury of options. I fully realize most of my colleagues are not in the same position. Some have small kids. Some are here on a work visa and will be deported if they leave their job. They need their jobs way more than I do. I am very fortunate to be in my position.
It has only been a few weeks, but the feeling of freedom I have felt has been unbelievable. In addition to focusing more on my existing businesses, I have started exploring other opportunities as well. Now that I am no longer a federal employee, I have no restrictions on what roles I can serve with ASP, so I hope to become more involved in the Society going forward. I have also started a new consulting business called Materia Medica Consulting.
Time will tell if I ultimately made the right decision. Regardless, I will always choose to remember my time at NCCIH for all the great interactions I have had with natural products researchers from across the country over the past 16 years rather than the chaos of the last few weeks. I fully expect to continue serving ASP in some capacity going forward, so as I turn the page on this new chapter of my career, I hope to see you all again at a future meeting. 