NEW YORK, USA — Jamaican-born medical practitioner Dr Gary Rhule has been nominated to fill the post of director of health and human services for the City of Hartford in Connecticut.

Dr Rhule, who was born in Kingston and attended Wolmer’s Boy’s School, was nominated for the position by Hartford’s Mayor Luke Bronin. His appointment, however, is subject to ratification by the city council which has scheduled a meeting on the matter for January 19.

Dr Rhule — who holds a Masters Degree in Public Health, and an MBA in Finance and Healthcare Management — previously worked as an emergency room physician, as well as medical director at insurance giant, Aetna in Hartford

He also served at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in his native Jamaica during the early part of his career before migrating to the United States.

The author of the book

Sailing on Broken Pieces: Essential Survival Skills for Recovery from Mental Illness, Dr Rhule currently works as a healthcare consultant, specialising in strategy and business development, and as a lecturer and public speaker on a variety of health topics.

If given the nod as director of health and human services for the city, Dr Rhule will be responsible for developing plans, policies and programmes to address the needs of the city’s health and human services.

The position also involves the implementation of State-mandated services and programmes pertaining to health and human services. Other duties will include the management and development of capital improvement projects, and the administration of grants and contracts.

Hartford is Connecticut’s fourth-largest city with a population of 125,000, according to the last US census.