Rhode Island Department of Health

{{Infobox government agency | name = Rhode Island Department of Health | formed = {{Start date and age|1935}} | logo = Logo of the Rhode Island Department of Health.svg | logo_size = 120px | image = Rhode_Island_Department_of_Health,_Cannon_Building.jpg | preceding1 = Rhode Island State Board of Health<ref>[https://health.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur1006/files/publications/papers/GovernmentOfHealthTheFormationOfTheRIStateBoardOfHealth.pdf Rhode Island State Board of Health]</ref> | preceding2 =  | dissolved = | superseding1 = | superseding2 =  | agency_type = [[State health agency]] | jurisdiction = [[Rhode Island]] | status = | headquarters = [[Providence, Rhode Island]] | coordinates =  | motto = "A better state of healthy"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Better State of Health {{!}} Department of Health |url=https://health.ri.gov/better-state-of-health |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=health.ri.gov}}</ref> | employees = ~566<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amore |first1=Gregg M. |title=Secretary of State |url=https://opengov.sos.ri.gov/OpenMeetingsPublic/GovDirectory?subtopmenuId=202&EntityID=1401 |website=RI Department of State}}</ref> | budget = $ 373,353,530 | minister_type = | minister1_name = | minister1_pfo = | minister2_name = | minister2_pfo =  | deputyminister_type = | deputyminister1_name = | deputyminister1_pfo = | deputyminister2_name = | deputyminister2_pfo =  | chief1_name = Jerome Larkin | chief1_position = Director | chief2_name = Christine Goulette | chief2_position = Chief Operations Officer | chief3_name = Cheryl Leclair | chief3_position = Office of Policy | chief4_name = Zachary Garceau | chief4_position = Office of Health Regulation | parent_department = | parent_agency = | parent_agency_type =  | child1_agency = | child2_agency =  | keydocument1 =  | website = {{URL|https://health.ri.gov/}} | agency_id = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | footnotes = | embed = }}

The '''Rhode Island [[Health departments in the United States|Department of Health]]''' ('''RIDOH''') is the [[state health agency]] in the [[Rhode Island|State of Rhode Island]]. The agency oversees [[public health]], [[Medical license|medical licensing]], and retains medical and data records in Rhode Island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About RIDOH {{!}} Department of Health |url=https://health.ri.gov/about-us |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=health.ri.gov}}</ref>

As of May 2024, the Director of the Department of Health is Dr. Jerome Larkin. The position was previously held by various acting directors following the resignation of [[Nicole Alexander-Scott]] in January 2022.<ref name="ri.gov">{{cite web|url=http://www.health.ri.gov/about/|title=About Us: Department of Health|website=www.health.ri.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Alexander |date=2024-05-22 |title=R.I. Senate confirms Dr. Jerome Larkin for permanent post at Rhode Island Department of Health • Rhode Island Current |url=https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/05/21/r-i-senate-confirms-dr-jerome-larkin-for-permanent-post-at-rhode-island-department-of-health/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=Rhode Island Current |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Mission, Vision, and Values == The Rhode Island Department of Health has the mission is to, "Prevent disease and protect and promote the health and safety of Rhode Islanders." As well as holding the vision for "safe and healthy lives in safe and healthy communities."<ref name="ri.gov" />

== Divisions and Centers ==

The Rhode Island Department of Health coordinates statewide [[public health]] activities across the state. All programs and services are coordinated by Divisions and Centers. * '''Central Management''' is divided into three programs: Executive Functions, Management Services, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. Executive Functions is headed by the Director of Health and oversees all Department-sponsored activities. Management Services oversees the Department budget and provides support to manage programs. Emergency Preparedness and Response plans, assesses, educates, and supports the community during [[disasters]] or [[emergencies]]. * '''The Office of State Medical Examiners''' investigates causes of death that may endanger the [[community]] and uses this information to keep the public aware and safe. * '''Environmental and Health Services Regulation''' licenses and regulates health professionals and monitors [[beach]] and [[drinking water]] quality. * '''The State Laboratories''' support [[scientific research]] to detect [[diseases]], protect the public from [[terrorism]] threats health and use health evidence in crime investigations. ** [[Rhode Island Division of State Laboratories]] *** [[Rhode Island State Health Laboratory]] *** [[Rhode Island Center for Biological Sciences]] *** [[Rhode Island Center for Clinical Toxicology and Laboratory Support]] *** [[Rhode Island Center for Environmental Sciences]] *** [[Rhode Island Center for Forensic Sciences]] *** [[Rhode Island Office of the State Medical Examiners]] * '''Public Health Information''' provides information for the public to understand health [[risks]] and make [[healthy]] and safe choices. * '''Community and Family Health and Equity''' develops programs to eliminate [[health disparities]] by ensuring equal access, creating partnerships with the community and [[healthcare]] facilities, promoting healthy [[Lifestyle (sociology)|lifestyles]], and educating [[citizens]] on public health issues. * '''Infectious Disease and Epidemiology''' conducts disease surveillance, responds to outbreaks, and provides health [[education]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://sosri.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_303e7df4-467e-4c6d-bdaa-8f08cc20862e/ Guide to the Department of Health Library records] from the Rhode Island State Archives *[https://sosri.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/digitalFile_7e79fe70-0d87-432d-8fef-4d9ac71cdbe4/ 1986-1987 Department of Health Division of Drug Control annual report] from the Rhode Island State Archives

[[Category:State agencies of Rhode Island]] [[Category:State departments of health of the United States]] [[Category:Medical and health organizations based in Rhode Island]] [[Category:Rhode Island Department of Health| ]]