Discover our impact
Facebook Social Media
Public Health Out Loud Podcast
Meet some of the people making a difference
FeleciaClodius
Felecia Clodius
Environmental Scientist III, Center for Drinking Water Quality
"Public health work is vital. It improves community health, fosters safer environments and builds robust economies for improving the livelihood of all”.
“Public health work is vital. It improves community health, fosters safer environments and builds robust economies for improving the livelihood of all.”
My ‘Why’
I have always enjoyed helping others and a career in public health is just that. I thrive on the challenges that come with keeping Rhode Island’s drinking water safe, and I find it incredibly rewarding to work alongside my teammates in the communities we serve. Every day brings something new, whether I’m learning about different water treatment systems or solving unexpected problems that pop up. Our work helps make something as simple as turning on the tap safe and reliable.
The Impact of My Work
As part of RIDOH’s Center for Drinking Water Quality, I help keep nearly 500 public water systems across Rhode Island clean and safe. Our audience can be everyone from business owners to tenured drinking water professionals. These include vital systems such as schools, churches, restaurants, and campgrounds. My team and I inspect facilities, troubleshoot issues, and support local communities with system upgrades. Our work helps to ensure that everyone in Rhode Island can trust the water that comes out of their faucet.
Mike Lauder
Mike Lauder
Public Health Nutritionist, WIC Program
"Over the years, I realized I wanted to take what I’d learned and try to make a bigger impact, beyond just one community."
"Over the years, I realized I wanted to take what I’d learned and try to make a bigger impact, beyond just one community."
My “Why”
I spent 20 years working at a local WIC agency, supporting families through tough moments, whether it was making sure they had access to healthy food or just being someone they could rely on. Over time, I realized I wanted to take that experience and make a bigger impact, reaching more communities across Rhode Island. Every day is different, and I love that the work is always evolving. One day I might be helping a family directly – and the next I’m coordinating with partners or troubleshooting urgent challenges.
The Impact of My Work
I help families and communities access the resources they need to stay healthy and safe. During the 2022 infant formula shortage, for example, I helped connect parents with available options when shelves were empty and anxiety was high. By supporting people in practical ways and helping prevent bigger crises, my team and I contribute to keeping Rhode Islanders safe, healthy, and even saving resources for the state.
Nicke
Nick Peret
Nursing Care Evaluator, Center for Health Facilities Regulation
"Part of our role is to ensure honesty and competence in healthcare delivery."
“Part of our role is to ensure honesty and competence in healthcare delivery.”
My ‘Why’
I like being able to make improvements in our healthcare system. Our work ensures facilities meet standards that protect health and safety every day. Impactful stories, like helping a family safely spend time with a loved one at the end of her life during COVID-19 visitation restrictions, make what we do worth it.
The Impact of My Work
The diversity in our daily efforts reflects the complex needs of the communities we serve, making our work so interesting. Through unannounced surveys and inspections, we see what is really happening in healthcare facilities and help hold them accountable in a fair and respectful way. We also gather feedback directly from residents and families, which helps improve care and build trust.
RaulGutierrez
Raúl Gutiérrez
Senior Environmental Laboratory Scientist, Waste Water Surveillance Lab.
"Public health affects everyone, whether you see it or not. Knowing what’s circulating in our communities helps us all stay safe."
“Public health affects everyone, whether you see it or not. Knowing what’s circulating in our communities helps us all stay safe.”
My ‘Why’
I came to Rhode Island for grad school and found this opportunity almost by chance. My work in wastewater surveillance allows me to help plot out key trends impacting a variety of different areas in public health. That widespread impact and constant learning keep me passionate every day. I love knowing what I do helps protect communities before problems even start.
The Impact of My Work
In the Wastewater Surveillance Lab, I help detect viruses like RSV, COVID-19, and the flu in collected samples. Because people shed viral particles before showing symptoms, our work can act as an early warning system for outbreaks - helping the state stay one step ahead of potential health issues. My role started with hands-on lab work and has grown to include collaboration with other departments and learning from other public health labs to strengthen our program. Our job is to see the early signs and prevent small issues from becoming big problems—and that’s something everyone benefits from.
Sarah Karim
Sarah Karim
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist, Substance Use Epidemiology Program
"We all deserve the right to be healthy. When we work together to make that possible, we can each contribute to the health of everybody."
“We all deserve the right to be healthy. When we work together to make that possible, we can each contribute to the health of everybody.”
My ‘Why’
I got into public health because I care about the overall health of communities, not just individual patients. I love using data, maps, and technology to figure out patterns in occurrences like overdoses and other health challenges. Every day I am analyzing data, building dashboards, and turning numbers into stories that can actually help people. It is exciting to see how a map or chart can spark conversations and actions that make a real difference.
The Impact of My Work
In my role with the Substance Use Epidemiology Program, I dig into trends and problem areas to share insights with community leaders and healthcare teams. There is so much more to geographic information systems (GIS) than just making maps. I also create dashboards, websites, data visualizations, and more. For example, when one town had a spike in overdoses, my team and I created heat maps and data visuals that guided targeted interventions and the numbers started to go down. By connecting data to action, our work helps Rhode Islanders stay healthier, safer, and more informed.
Leslie Info
Leslie MacDougall
Senior Environmental Health Food Specialist, Center for Food Protection
"A team of 15 state food inspectors conducted 8,777 inspections in 2024. Our inspections help to ensure that food is safe at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants, and temporary events."
"A team of 15 state food inspectors conducted 8,777 inspections in 2024. Our inspections help to ensure that food is safe at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants, and temporary events."
My “Why”
I knew I wanted to positively impact the members of my community. I remain passionate about my work through the interactions I have with food establishments, educating them about not only what the regulations are, but why they matter.
The Impact of My Work
RIDOH solved a nationwide E. coli outbreak in 2019 associated with flour, which had been unsolved. The sample of a 5-pound bag of flour, which I collected from a local bakery, underwent testing which matched nationwide cases (think of it like a fingerprint), effectively identifying the source of their illness. This is just one example of how we protect the public’s health every day.
Public Health in Action
What is Public Health?
Many people associate public health with healthcare, like going to the doctor or hospital. While healthcare focuses on one patient at a time, public health protects and promotes the health of the entire communities. RIDOH works every day to prevent disease and keep Rhode Islanders healthy and safe.
Who We Are
Public health workers come from many backgrounds - from data experts to community organizers - all working together to give everyone a fair chance at being healthy and safe.
The Bigger Picture
What we highlight here is just a part of what RIDOH does. We also:
