Cranston's Polanco Appointed Medical Director of Ambulatory Services at RI Hospital

Cranston’s Jose Polanco has been appointed medical director of adult ambulatory services at Rhode Island Hospital.

Rhode Island Hospital announced Tuesday that the hospital administration has named Polanco, M.D. FACP, of Cranston, to the new position.

In addition to the clinics, Polanco will oversee the Hallett Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology and the Samuels Sinclair Dental Center. He will also collaborate on the integration of all of Lifespan’s 17 adult clinics.

“Dr. Polanco is a strong advocate for underserved populations and truly an asset to our hospital,” said Margaret M. Van Bree, MHA, DrPH, president, Rhode Island and Hasbro Children’s hospitals. “He has demonstrated ability to improve access to care and to streamline care provision. We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Polanco as part of our team.”

Polanco is a graduate of Brown University, State University of New York, Binghamton, and State University of New York Health Science Center College of Medicine. He completed his residency in general internal medicine at Rhode Island Hospital and is board certified in internal medicine.

His experience in ambulatory care includes serving as medical director and attending physician for the ambulatory center at Memorial Hospital and chief medical officer of the Blackstone Valley Community Health Care, Inc., both in Pawtucket, Rhode Island; and establishing Edgewood Medical, a large, successful independent primary care practice in Cranston.

Polanco is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and serves as treasurer of the Rhode Island Medical Society.

He established and continues to participate in an educational, call-in radio program for the Latino community on Poder 1110. Polanco discusses general health and medicine topics every third Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.