New Director of Health Named, 4th During McKee’s Tenure
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Governor Dan McKee’s office announced that the Rhode Island Department of Health has a new acting director.
McKee’s office said in a statement on Thursday, “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.
According to McKee’s office, Fischer currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. She has been with RIDOH since 2023.
Previously, she practiced at Rhode Island Hospital for 15 years.
Fischer oversaw the training of medical residents and fellows for Lifespan in a prior capacity as the Director of Graduate Medical Education, and was the Director of the Infectious Disease Fellowship Program at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. She also held positions with the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education and is board-certified in infectious diseases.