Kimberly Jones Now Deputy Commissioner Of Health

ST. CROIX — After serving as the Governor Kenneth Mapp administration’s communications director for all of 2015, Kimberly Jones has taken up a new role as deputy commissioner of the Department of Health, Ms. Jones confirmed to The Consortium in a phone interview this morning.

The Mapp administration’s new communications director will be Nicole Bollentini, who will officially take up her role on Thursday. Ms. Bollentini most recently served as Senator Almando Liburd’s chief of staff. Formerly, she served as public relations officer for former Senator Shawn Michael Malone and also for former Senator Sen. Adlah Donastorg Jr. Deputy Communications Director Samuel Topp will act as director in the interim.

Ms. Jones, a certified peritoneal dialysis nurse (CPDN), has worked at the Juan F. Luis Hospital, and told The Consortium that she was instrumental in “setting up several dialysis units in the territory.” She also taught a nursing program at the St. Croix Educational Complex between 2000-2003.

“I’m very excited about the new job and the opportunity to utilize my experience and education for the Department of Health,” Ms. Jones said. As for her experience at Government House, the new deputy commissioner said it was a great experience that will benefit her position at DOH.

“It was fantastic,” she said. “I learned so much and I got to see a whole different angle of how government operations work, coming from the private sector into the public sector.

“Every time you have an experience in life, it lends itself to the next experience. It becomes part of who you are and your resume, and it helps you cast a new light on the future.”

As deputy commissioner of DOH, Ms. Jones told The Consortium that she is responsible for education, information and prevention. “For example communicable diseases, the cancer registry, the AED registry — these are things that are going to fall under my purview, as well as management of certain grants and making sure that they are utilized in a timely manner,” she said.

Feature Image: Kimberly Jones speaking at an event in Government House here last year. 

Image Credit: VIC.