Patricia A. Nolan, M.D., M.P.H.

Director of Health

Patricia A. Nolan, M.D., M.P.H., is the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. She joined the department on March 1, 1995.

Prior to coming to Rhode Island, Dr. Nolan served as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Her past experience includes local public health administration in New York City and in Tucson, Arizona; medical administration with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, a managed care Medicaid program; and state public health administration in Illinois.

Dr. Nolan received her medical degree from McGill University in Montreal (1969), and her Masters in Public Health from Columbia University in New York City (1973). She is board certified in Public Health by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. She has held adjunct academic appointments at several medical schools, and is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Community Health at Brown University. Dr. Nolan is the current president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. She is actively involved in the American Public Health Association and serves on the board of the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning.