After more than two years without a permanent director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, Gov. Dan McKee has nominated Dr. Jerome M. Larkin to fill the post.
Larkin, 61, is the medical director of inpatient infectious diseases consultation services at Rhode Island Hospital and an associate professor of clinical medicine at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School. He is board certified in internal medicine, infectious diseases and general pediatrics.
The state health director oversees a range of health and safety practices, from food safety in restaurants and grocery stores to medical standards in hospitals, health centers and doctor’s offices. The director is also at the center of responding to a public health emergency like the COVID pandemic.
The state has had no permanent health director since January 2022, when Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott resigned, leaving a series of interim directors to fill the role. McKee appointed Dr. Staci Fischer as his latest interim director in March.
The McKee administration has complained that the health director’s state salary was impeding the search for a permanent chief. As of March, the job paid $175,383, which is less than the average doctor earns in their first year out of residency training.
Larkin will receive a $250,000 salary after the General Assembly allowed an increase proposed by McKee to go into effect, Olivia DaRocha, McKee’s press secretary, said in an email.
McKee’s office said he will submit Larkin’s nomination to the state Senate for confirmation.
This story was updated to include additional information from the governor’s office. Lynn Arditi contributed to this story.
