Supported by over 15 years of professional experience, James C. Rajotte currently excels as the director of strategy and innovation at the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services. In his formal role, he has also maintained responsibility as the assistant director of health in the Division of COVID-19 Operations and the inter-department project manager in the Division of Community Health and Equity, both affiliated with the Rhode Island Department of Health. Outside of his primary role, he has also served as an adjunct professor of health care administration at Rhode Island College since 2017. With a key interest in diversity, inclusion and public health, Mr. Rajotte has been honored on numerous occasions, having recently been recognized in 40 Under 40 by Providence Business News in 2023 and in 40 Under 40 by The de Beaumont Foundation in 2021.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Rajotte fulfilled several key positions across a myriad of organizations, including with the Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence College, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Anchor Medical Associates and the State of Rhode Island, among many others. Among these appointments, he is notable for serving as a public health analyst and health policy analyst for the CDC, as well as serving as the COVID-19 team lead for health care, employer and government outbreak prevention for the State of Rhode Island. Furthermore, he has delivered several keynote addresses, oral addresses and conference sessions pertaining to his areas of expertise, as well as served as a contributing author on numerous publications and scholarly articles.
To prepare for his career, Mr. Rajotte first received a Bachelor of Science in biology, science, technology and society, graduating magna cum laude from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2008. For his academic achievements, he was named a first prize winner in theoretical research at the Undergraduate Research Forum, as well as received the President’s Medal from the institution. Additionally, he is especially proud of earning the Outstanding Resident Life Staff Member of the Year award in 2008. Mr. Rajotte also received a Master of Science in leadership from Roger Williams University in 2015, where he also earned the Dean’s Award of Excellence. Mr. Rajotte holds several certifications, including a LEAN Yellow Belt, CPR/AED certification and several fitness specialty certifications.
Other accolades to Mr. Rajotte’s credit also include his nomination for the Charles C. Shepard Science Award from the CDC in 2015 and an accolade for outstanding scientific publication for program practice and evaluation from the CDC in 2013 and 2014. Likewise, the CDC honored him with the Director Award. Attributing much of his success to the influence of his mother during his formative years, Mr. Rajotte intends to continue expanding the scope of his professional responsibilities in the coming years. To this end, he would like to participate in numerous critical change initiatives for the state of Rhode Island, particularly in the realm of raising awareness and equity of the overdose epidemic in the state.