Governor Daniel J. McKee announced on Thursday the appointment of an infectious disease specialist who recently joined the Rhode Island Department of Health as its interim director until a permanent hire is finalized.
Dr. Staci Fischer worked 15 years at Rhode Island Hospital and oversaw training for medical residents and fellows for Lifespan in her former role as the director of graduate medical education at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School. Despite her extensive health background, however, Fischer does not appear to have the required degree or experience in public health to qualify as a permanent director.
The appointment comes as the state’s current interim director, Dr. Uptala Bandy, is scheduled to retire at the end of this week. The state has had no permanent health director since January 2022, when Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott resigned.
The job of state health director currently pays $175,383 which is less than the average doctor earns in their first year out of residency training. McKee submitted a proposal to the General Assembly on March 13 to increase the health director’s salary to $250,000. Unless state lawmakers challenge the directors’ raises, they are expected to become final sometime in April.
Fischer joined the Health Department about six months ago as the state medical director for health quality and safety and chief administrative officer of the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. Fischer has been filling the dual role previously held by Dr. James McDonald until McKee appointed him interim director in January 2022, after Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott stepped down. After 12 months as interim director, McDonald left for New York, where he became the state’s health commissioner.
As the state’s acting health director Fischer will receive a salary of $207,136, the governor’s office said in an email.
McKee’s office said the governor is in the “final stages of the hiring process” for a permanent health director.