Providence, RI – Michael Fine, MD, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) today announced that James Palmer has been named Chief, Office of Health Promotion, for the Department. In this role Palmer will serve as principal Public Information Officer and oversee communications strategy for HEALTH. He will join the Department on December 16.
"James brings a broad range of experience in developing and managing successful communications strategies, including work with the World Health Organization, the Global Health Council, the United States Agency for International Development, and the World Bank" said Dr. Fine. "In addition, he has considerable experience with crisis communication in health. I am confident he will help the Department reach its mission through communication with the media and the public."
Since 1999 Palmer has been President of the Palmer Group, a public relations consultancy specializing in strategic leadership on public affairs, media relations, and fundraising, serving clients all over the world. During the SARS outbreak in 2003, he was sent to Beijing by WHO for his crisis communication skills and in 2009 worked at their Geneva headquarters on the H1N1 pandemic.
"After working for organizations whose interest is promoting the health of whole nations and the whole world, it is a pleasure for me now to work on the same issues for the people of my home state," said Palmer. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and has lived in East Greenwich for 13 years.