4th Director of Health Named During McKee’s Term

Governor Dan McKee’s office recently made an announcement regarding the Rhode Island Department of Health’s new acting director. Dr. Utpala Bandy will be retiring on March 29th, and Governor McKee has appointed Dr. Staci Fischer as the acting director during the hiring process for a permanent director. Since assuming office in 2021, McKee has seen several changes in leadership at RIDOH, with Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott resigning and Dr. James McDonald serving as acting director before Bandy.

Dr. Fischer currently holds the position of Chief Administrative Officer at the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and has been with RIDOH since 2023. With 15 years of experience practicing at Rhode Island Hospital, Fischer has also overseen medical resident and fellow training for Lifespan and served as the Director of the Infectious Disease Fellowship Program at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Additionally, she has held positions with the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education and is board-certified in infectious diseases.

These recent changes in leadership reflect Governor McKee’s commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of Rhode Island residents through skilled and experienced leadership at the Rhode Island Department of Health. With Dr. Fischer now serving as acting director, the state is poised to continue its efforts to promote public health and safety in the face of ongoing challenges.