McKee Names New Head of Health, 5th Director in Three Years
Friday, May 10, 2024
Governor Dan McKee on Friday announced his nomination of Dr. Jerome M. Larkin as the next director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH).
In March, McKee’s office announced an acting director — Dr. Staci Fischer. She was the fourth person to serve as director since McKee became governor.
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McKee’s office said in March, “Dr. [Utpala] Bandy will be retiring on March 29th. We thank her for leadership and service to the people of Rhode Island. While we move through the final stages of the hiring process for a permanent RIDOH director, Governor McKee is appointing Dr. Staci Fischer as acting director.”
Since McKee ascended to the governorship in 2021, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott resigned, and then Dr. James McDonald served as acting director, followed by Bandy.
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“Dr. Larkin is a proven leader in the medical field and his experience will be a vital asset to our team and to the people of Rhode Island,” said McKee. “Improving health outcomes for all Rhode Islanders is a top priority for our administration and I’m confident that Dr. Larkin will help us reach that goal.”
With more than thirty years of experience in the healthcare field, Larkin is a licensed medical doctor in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and currently serves as the Medical Director of Inpatient Infectious Diseases Consultation Services at Rhode Island Hospital.
He works as an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and has received numerous teaching awards during his time there. He received his medical degree from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed his undergraduate degree at Boston College.
"I look forward to working with Secretary Charest and Governor McKee, as well as the many dedicated and talented staff of the Department of Health in moving health care in Rhode Island forward,” said Larkin.
Larkin is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine and in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics.
McKee will submit Larkin’s name to the Rhode Island Senate for advice and consent.
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