Governor Dan McKee’s office recently announced the appointment of Dr. Staci Fischer as the acting director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). Dr. Utpala Bandy will be retiring on March 29th, and Governor McKee has taken this opportunity to fill the leadership void at RIDOH with a highly qualified and experienced professional.
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 over 15 years of experience practicing at Rhode Island Hospital, she 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.
Governor McKee’s decision to appoint Dr. Fischer reflects his commitment to ensuring that Rhode Island residents receive top-quality healthcare services from skilled and experienced professionals. As acting director, she will play a crucial role in leading RIDOH through ongoing challenges related to public health and safety, while also promoting efforts to improve health outcomes for all residents of our state.
The recent changes in leadership at RIDOH reflect Governor McKee’s dedication to providing excellent care for Rhode Islanders through effective leadership at this critical department. With Dr. Fischer now serving as acting director, we can be confident that our state is well-positioned to continue its efforts to promote public health and safety for all residents.
