RI Department Of Health Interim Director Stepping Down

RHODE ISLAND — James McDonald, the interim director for the Rhode Island Department of Health, will resign, Gov. Dan McKee said Thursday.

McKee said McDonald will step down on July 29, so he can focus on recent health needs in his family.

"As with many Rhode Islanders, I have a family member who suffers from Alzheimer’s, specifically my mom," McDonald said in a letter to McKee. "Although you have never met my mom, I can assure you she is an amazing woman. She raised six successful sons, owned a business for over 50 years and was a vibrant community leader. At this point in her disease, she still knows who I am, and is still happy to see me and my family, yet I am not certain how long this will be the case."

His mother's health situation requires him to move out of state.

"Dr. McDonald has provided steady leadership to our state and great counsel to me as we continued our work to manage COVID-19," McKee said. "Rhode Islanders have come to know, love and trust Dr. McDonald for his easy-to-understand explanations and simple tips. Thanks to Dr. McDonald and his team, we know we have the tools to keep ourselves and our families safe. I thank Dr. McDonald for stepping up and taking on this interim position. We will be keeping his family in our thoughts."

McDonald will continue as interim director while McKee finds a successor.

"As I shared in the letter I wrote to the governor, this was a very difficult decision for me and my family," McDonald said. "It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve in this capacity; however, at this time, I need to put the needs of my family first. I will always have wonderful and warm memories of my time spent here in this great state. I want to thank my colleagues at RIDOH for all the wonderful work they have done and for the important work I know they will continue to do."

McDonald became the interim director after former Director Nicole Alexander Scott stepped down earlier this year.