Joseph Wendelken - 21 Who Made a Difference in 2021

Joseph Wendelken - 21 Who Made a Difference in 2021

No state employee has been in the eye of the storm of the coronavirus more than the Rhode Island Department of Health’s spokesperson Joseph Wendelken.

He has had to respond to literally thousands of press inquiries over the past two years and manage the intricacies and internal politics of the agencies as well as two administrations in 2021 — the Gina Raimondo and the Dan McKee governorships.

Wendelken has often worked seven days a week and responded to questions at night, on weekends, and on holidays.

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Rhode Island has often been among the worst in responding to the pandemic — in December of 2020, Rhode Island had the highest infection rate in the world, in February had the worst vaccination program and in December of 2021, Rhode Island repeated the highest infection rate in the U.S.

During it all Wendelken was diligent, responsive and nearly unflappable in the face of unrelenting pressure and oftentimes seemingly impossible demands. 

There may be no person in Rhode Island that hopes the pandemic will end.

Wendelken has been a professional’s professional.