Arthur Hull Hayes Jr., M.D. served as dean of the School of Medicine and provost of New York Medical College from 1983 through 1986.
A Rhodes Scholar, he received an M.D. from Cornell University School of Medicine in 1964. Following his internship, residency, and two years of service in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Dr. Hayes began his career in clinical pharmacology at his medical alma mater and later served as director of clinical pharmacology at the Pennsylvania State University Medical School.
In 1981, Dr. Hayes was appointed Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by President Ronald Reagan. Under Dr. Hayes’ leadership, the FDA ushered in the first orphan drugs and carried out major reorganizations of drugs, biologics, and other areas, among other activities. As FDA Commissioner, Dr. Hayes also helped calm consumer fears after a national crisis when Tylenol was contaminated with cyanide, and seven people died. Dr. Hayes is credited with leading the government and the drug industry response by developing the first federal regulations requiring tamper-resistant packaging for all over-the-counter drugs. After leaving the FDA, Dr. Hayes assumed his role at NYMC.
Among other recognitions, Dr. Hayes served on the editorial boards of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rational Drug Therapy, and the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. He also served as president of both the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and the United States Pharmacopoeial Convention, and he received honorary degrees from St. John's University and New York Medical College.