Calls for a boycott have surged against Johnson & Johnson following controversial remarks by former Vice President Sam Maldonado, who urged the Israeli government to “kill all” Palestinians and to “obey orders.” Maldonado’s comments have ignited widespread condemnation, as he speculated on Israeli Prime Minister receiving a divine message to eliminate Palestinians. On his LinkedIn profile, Maldonado attempted to justify his statements by asserting that labeling such actions as ethnic cleansing or genocide overlooks the perceived divine mandate that the “chosen people” recognize as obedience to God.
Who is Dr Sam Maldonado?
Sam Maldonado, an independent consultant with over 30 years of experience in drug development, concluded his distinguished career in 2022 after a remarkable 22-year tenure at Johnson & Johnson. His journey with J&J began in February 2000 when he assumed the role of Director of Pediatric Drug Development at the Janssen Research Foundation.
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Throughout his career, Maldonado demonstrated a commitment to advancing pediatric drug development. In 2012, he initiated the Child Health Innovation Leadership Department (CHILD) under the auspices of Janssen Global Medical Organization. This department played a pivotal role in supporting product development teams engaged in pediatric development programs. Maldonado further represented the Regulated Industry on the FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee and the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH).
His contributions expanded beyond J&J, as he played a key role in establishing impactful initiatives such as the International Neonatal Consortium (INC), the Institute for Advanced Clinical Trials for Children (I-ACT), and the Pan-European Pediatric Clinical Trials consortium known as c4c. Notably, c4c represents a collaborative effort between the European Commission and the Pharmaceutical Industry.
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Maldonado’s influence extended to shaping policy, legislation, and regulations aimed at enhancing global pediatric health. Prior to his tenure at J&J, he contributed to the development of anti-retroviral drugs at Boehringer-Ingelheim from 1998 to 2000. Between 1990 and 1998, he served as a Medical Officer at the FDA, actively participating in the formulation of the Pediatric Exclusivity law.
Dr. Maldonado holds an MD degree from the National University of Honduras. He completed his pediatric residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI, pursued a fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and obtained his Masters in Public Health from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
