University of California, Santa Cruz

Communicating and Negotiating with FDA: Medical Devices

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University of California, Santa Cruz

Communicating and Negotiating with FDA: Medical Devices

Jay Vaishnav

Instructor: Jay Vaishnav

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

6 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Frame FDA communications using regulatory logic, scientific clarity, and professional tone.

  • Distinguish negotiable from non-negotiable issues in FDA interactions and align strategy accordingly.

  • Prepare, execute, and respond to FDA meetings, inspections, and enforcement actions with sound judgment.

Details to know

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Recently updated!

June 2026

Assessments

5 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Welcome to the Communicating and Negotiating with FDA: Medical Devices course! Module 1 establishes the FDA's role as a law-driven regulator committed to public health protection, not a traditional negotiating partner in product approval. It details how to apply risk-based classification to medical devices to determine the correct regulatory pathway. The module also provides strategies for effective, judgment-informed communication to meet evidentiary standards within the FDA’s legal framework.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment

Module 2 views communication with the FDA as a core regulatory strategy, where clarity in framing issues and requests directly impacts the efficiency and outcome of interactions. We will focus on structuring clear written and verbal communication, preparing for meetings, and advocating constructively to create a well-supported path toward regulatory alignment.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 assignment

This module reframes these interactions not as conversations, but as high-stakes, formal decision events that dictate your product's regulatory trajectory. It emphasizes that because these interactions are often a "one-shot" reality, successful preparation must focus on achieving internal alignment, designing conditional questions that the FDA can answer, and controlling risk in a constrained environment.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment

Module 4 addresses managing the high-stakes negotiation of an FDA inspection in the medical device industry. It focuses on how the new Quality System Management Regulation (QMSR) and the Office of Inspections and Investigations (OII) have fundamentally changed the rules of engagement. We will learn to manage the inspection narrative, emphasizing disciplined communication.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment

Module 5 explores three high-stakes areas of FDA communication and negotiation: dispute resolution, regulatory crisis management, and preparation for FDA Advisory Committee meetings. The module details both formal and informal pathways for breaking impasses, strategies for managing crises with transparency and accountability, and the rigorous planning required for a successful public expert review.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 assignment

Instructor

Jay Vaishnav
University of California, Santa Cruz
1 Course2 learners

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¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.