Dr. Dickinson, who earned her PhD in nutritional science from the University of Maryland, was CRN’s original staff member in 1973 and held several positions over her distinguished tenure, culminating in her role as CRN President from 2002 to 2005.
She was also appointed to serve a 3-year term on the FDA’s Food Advisory Committee in 2002 and was appointed by President Clinton to the Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels (1995-1997).
“Her steady hand and insistence on science-backed policy led the organization through many tough decisions and proved to define CRN’s course as ‘the science behind the supplements’,” said Steve Mister, CRN’s president and CEO, in a statement.
“Dr. Dickinson will be remembered not only for her many professional achievements but also for her warmth, wit and generosity. She leaves behind a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire CRN and the broader nutrition community.”
Tenancy, calm and credibility
“The formative years of today’s dietary supplement industry were a time of significant legislative and regulatory challenges. Into this chaos stepped Dr. Annette Dickinson who, along with the founding members of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, forged a science-based organization representing the interests of ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and allied companies,” said John Venardos, who held senior executive positions with CRN member companies Pfizer, Herbalife and Bodybuilding.com, served on the CRN Board, Executive Committee, Government Relations Committee, and chaired the International Trade and Market Development Committee.
“Her tenacity, calm disposition, technical credibility and leadership served CRN and this country well, and I was proud to call Annette my friend.”
Dr. Andrew Shao, who served CRN as vice president and senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs from 2005 to 2011, called Dr. Dickinson a “kind person, who carried herself with the utmost dignity, and was always positive and collaborative. She truly represented the ‘R’ in CRN.”
“I credit Annette as a key factor for my own career success. Here’s a fun fact: Did you know back in 2005 Annette hired Steve and me about two weeks apart? I can’t recall who started first but suffice it to say that this could have been an awkward situation at the very least. You hire your replacement and second in command at the same time without them having spoken to each other! She of course orchestrated the whole thing with dignity and grace, and it was as smooth a transition as I can recall (credit of course to Steve as well for making it work),” Dr. Shao said.
“Not to mention at the time I was still a young, inexperienced, mostly industry naïve nutrition scientist, with exactly ZERO policy/DC experience. Annette gave me that opportunity despite the lack of experience, and so I’m forever grateful to her for that.”
‘Someone you would have done well to model your professional life after’
Loren Israelsen, founder and president of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), told us he knew Dr. Dickinson well. “She was the consummate professional. Highly educated but humble, cordial and collaborative, she was trusted by all as an honest broker who considered all sides.
“She was highly regarded by the FDA as a nutrition scientist and served on a number of advisory and technical panels,” Israelsen added.
“Well spoken, she was often quoted in national media as a thoughtful voice but who also advocated for the expanded role of nutrients and dietary supplements.
“She is someone you would have done well to model your professional life after.”
Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, remembered Dr. Dickinson as a colleague and a friend for at least 30 years.
“Annette was a true professional,” he said. “She was very knowledgeable about the science of nutrition and biochemistry, and the fine points of regulation. She was always cordial, respectful, cooperative and collaborative. From my perspective, she gets high marks and much appreciation for her recognizing the beneficial value and constructive role that herbal dietary supplements can and do play in natural health. She shared our view that herbs can be legitimate dietary components in a definition of diet and nutrition that is much wider than the conventional and overly-limited view of the spectrum of nutrients held by mainstream dietitians—especially 30 to 40 years ago.
“While her role at CRN focused mainly on conventional nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, et al.), Annette engaged and cooperated with the American Botanical Council and trade associations like AHPA in recognizing that herbs—which some parties wanted to be regulated as drugs, not foods—rightly belonged in the legal definition of ‘dietary supplement’,” Blumenthal added. “She was also instrumental in working on developing some of the basics of the Good Manufacturing Practices for dietary supplements that was authorized by DSHEA.”
‘Science was always where her heart was’
Paul Bolar, former vice president of regulatory affairs at Pharmavite LLC, a longtime CRN member, said he worked with Dr. Dickinson from the late 1970s until 2005. He remembers her as a “very lovely person with a great sense of humor and great integrity.”
“She was the CRN scientist for several years until she got promoted to president,” he said. “She was a very good scientist in her own right, and science was always where her heart was. She would engage personally in scientific discussions, even when she was president.
“At meetings, she was always taking copious notes, page after page of notes in handwriting that only she could read.”
Bolar noted that she loved Paris and would visit the City of Light any chance she could. She was also very devoted to her husband Charlie.