New Rhode Island Health Director Appointed: Dr. Staci Fischer Takes Over As Acting Director.

As interim state health director Dr. Utpala Bandy prepares to retire, Gov. Dan McKee has appointed Dr. Staci Fischer as the acting director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. In an email Thursday afternoon, Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for McKee, confirmed the appointment and stated that the search for a permanent health director is ongoing.

Fischer, who currently serves as chief administrative officer for the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, will take over as acting director on March 29th. She has a salary of $207,000 according to the state payroll database, which is higher than the $175,000 salary of the health director position. McKee has proposed a $250,000 salary effective in April to make the position more attractive to potential candidates.

Fischer has been working with the health department since July 2023 and also serves as one of Rhode Island’s medical directors. She has extensive experience in overseeing training for medical residents and fellows and previously held positions at Rhode Island Hospital and with the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. Fischer graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and completed her doctorate in medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine.