Rhode Island Governor Lincoln D. Chafee has nominated Dr. Kathleen C. Hittner to lead the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, the first state agency dedicated solely to health insurance oversight. Dr. Hittner has been nominated to replace outgoing Commissioner Christopher F. Koller, who is stepping down to become president of the Milbank Memorial Fund, a national health policy foundation based in New York City.

“Dr. Hittner is a widely respected medical professional with decades of relevant experience in Rhode Island's health care industry,” Governor Chafee said. “Commissioner Koller – the nation's first Health Insurance Commissioner – has performed with distinction and is leaving big shoes to fill. I am confident that in Dr. Hittner we have found a highly capable and knowledgeable candidate to lead this important office in the years to come. Lieutenant Governor [Elizabeth] Roberts and I look forward to working with Dr. Hittner to continue leading the nation in the implementation of federal health care reform and making quality health care more affordable and accessible for Rhode Island families and employers.”

Dr. Hittner earned a B.S. from Albright College and an M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in clinical anesthesiology in 1976 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She went on to a career in anesthesiology culminating in her being chief of anesthesiology at both Roger Williams Medical Center (1993-2000) and The Miriam Hospital (1996-2000). Dr. Hittner was president of Miriam's medical staff from 1998 to 2000 and served as president and chief executive officer of the Miriam Hospital from 2000 to 2009, during which time she also served as president of The Miriam Hospital Foundation.