PEABODY — The city’s Board of Health has a new member: osteopathic physician Dr. Julia Fleet.
Fleet, who went to medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine, was appointed by the City Council last month. She will join Chair Thomas Durkin and Anthony Carli on the board.
“I’m really excited to join the group,” she said. “I couldn’t be more impressed with everybody that I’ve met.”
Fleet began her career by completing a residency in family practice at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, then spent another year working in Pittsfield. She spent time working in urgent care, but said that now, she has mostly transitioned to telemedicine.
In May, she was helping to administer COVID-19 vaccines at the Senior Center when she met Sharon Cameron, Peabody’s health director. Cameron told her that former member Dr. Leigh Ann Mansberger would be stepping away from her position, and that the board is mandated to have a member who is a physician.
At first, Fleet wasn’t sure about the idea of joining, because she had never done anything like it before. Eventually, though, she came around to the idea.
“My grandfather, who has since passed away, was very involved in various planning committees in Haverhill and served on the board for nursing home registration,” she said. “He was very involved, and I thought, how wonderful is that ― to be involved and serve.”
Fleet said that she is looking forward to helping the board continue to deal with the pandemic, encouraging everyone to get vaccinated and continue to wear masks. She also said that she is excited about the environmental aspect of working on the board, helping the city make decisions that are climate-conscious.
“Dr. Mansberger has really big shoes to fill, but I think I’m up for the task and I’m looking forward to it,” she said.
