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Information for mammography facility personnel, inspectors, and consumers               about the implementation of the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (MQSA)

The National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee

Dates of Upcoming Advisory Committee Meetings

Summaries and Transcripts
Committee Members

The National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (NMQAAC), mandated by Congress, consists of between 13 and 19 members. These include physicians, practitioners, other health professionals, consumer and industry representatives - all whose clinical practice, research specialization, or professional expertise include a significant focus on mammography.

The functions of this committee are to advise the Food and Drug Administration on:

1. Developing appropriate quality standards and regulations for mammography facilities;
2. Developing appropriate standards and regulations for bodies accrediting mammography facilities under this program;
3. Developing regulations with respect to sanctions;
4. Developing procedures for monitoring compliance with standards;
5. Establishing a mechanism to investigate consumer complaints;
6. Reporting new developments concerning breast imaging which should be considered in the oversight of mammography facilities;
7. Determining whether there exists a shortage of mammography facilities in rural and health professional shortage areas and determining the effects of personnel on access to the services of such facilities in such areas;
8. Determining whether there will exist a sufficient number of medical physicists after October 1, 1999; and
9. Determining the costs and benefits of compliance with these requirements.

Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified persons for membership on the committee. Self-nominations are also accepted. Nominations must include a complete curriculum vitae of each nominee, current business address and telephone number, and shall state that the nominee is aware of the nomination, is willing to serve four years as a member, and appears to have no conflict of interest that would preclude membership. FDA will ask potential candidates to provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial holdings, employment, and research grants and/or contracts to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest. Nominations for committee members (excluding consumer reps.), with accompanying curricula vitae, may be sent to: Charles A. Finder, M.D., Center for Devices and Radiological Health (HFZ-240), Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850.

For persons nominated to represent consumer interests, experience and/or education is evaluated against Federal civil service criteria for the position to which the person will be appointed. Selection of members representing consumer interests is conducted through procedures which include use of a consortium of consumer organizations which has the responsibility for recommending candidates for the agency's selection. Candidates should possess appropriate qualifications to understand and contribute to the committee's work. For further information regarding nominations for consumer representatives, contact: Mary Wallace, Office of Consumer Affairs (HFE-3), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, 301-827-4406.

For further information about the advisory committee, contact: Kathleen L. Walker, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (HFZ-17), Food and Drug Administration, 2098 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, 301-594-1283, ext. 114.

The list of National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee Members can now be found in the CDRH Advisory Committee Meetings Database

Updated January 28, 2005

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