PEABODY — The city’s Rotary Club has named Peabody Director of Health and Human Services Sharon Cameron as its local hero.
This honor was given to Cameron as part of the Rotary District 7930’s “Celebration of Heroes” initiative. Each member club in the district was invited to nominate a hero in their respective community. The criteria for selection was simple — someone who has made a difference in their community.
Cameron was recognized along with other honorees at an awards ceremony Thursday night at the Danversport Yacht Club. She was unanimously selected by the Rotary Club for her undeniably tireless work and continuing efforts to keep the city safe for its residents, workers, and visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am honestly speechless and am so grateful to the Peabody Rotary Club for honoring our work in this way and for their partnership in promoting our community’s well-being over the years,” said Cameron. “This is such an incredible honor and I truly appreciate your recognizing our work during the pandemic. I view this recognition as rightfully belonging to my whole team, and we are so honored to have our work recognized.”
Cameron has been at the forefront of the city’s COVID-19 response, testing and vaccination programs. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Cameron has worked to oversee public-health staff, assist the school system with reopening and contact-tracing procedures, and has helped seniors and residents of all ages receive their vaccines.
Cameron said she is proud of the Peabody community, but is most proud of the city’s health department, whose response provided critical case management and contact tracing, which allowed Peabody students to return to school safely and residents to begin the task of getting their lives back on track.
“Peabody Health Department staff — nurses, inspectors, administrative staff and board members — worked tirelessly around the clock throughout the pandemic to address the challenges of the COVID pandemic to provide these critical services, and rose to meet every challenge with professionalism, integrity, compassion, energy and optimism,” said Cameron. “I am so proud to serve alongside them.”
Cameron has been in public health for 32 years. A graduate of Harvard University, she earned a master’s degree in public administration at the Harvard Kennedy School. She was attracted to public health because of the variety of ways public health is part of people’s everyday lives.
This isn’t the first time Cameron’s efforts have been recognized. Earlier this year, she was selected as one of the 2021 Commonwealth Heroines by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW).
The Rotary District 7930’s Celebration of Heroes benefits the Rotary Foundation, which in turn funds the charitable acts of the organization locally, throughout the country, and across the globe.
