School Committee Appoints New School Physician
– Allison Goldsberry
After more than twenty years on the job, Medford School Physician Dr. Ralph Goldstein is retiring and Dr. Kristen Goodell of Medford Family Care (pictured at left) will fill his shoes.
Dr. Goodell attended medical school at Columbia University and spent time as a surgical resident at Tufts New England Medical Center. She recently entered into private practice at Medford Family Care.
“Dr. Goodell is an energetic and enthusiastic practitioner who can provide us with state-of-the-art guidance. Her affiliations will enable her to seek additional assistance as deemed necessary,” said School Superintendent Roy Belson.
The School Committee interviewed Dr. Goodell prior to their Monday night meeting and unanimously accepted the Superintendent’s recommendation for her appointment to the position.
The position is an important one and requires the School Physician to work with the school health staff to stay on top of public health laws and to serve as a liaison with community health providers.
School Physicians also have to deal with potential public health issues. Some, like broken water bubblers at a school, seem minor, but are enough to shut down a school. Others, such as two cases of tuberculosis, are very serious and require the complete shut down of the entire school system.
Both of those situations occurred under Dr. Goldstein’s tenure, and Mayor Michael McGlynn praised him for his quick thinking and swift action in those cases.
The School Committee also formally commended Dr. Goldstein for his years of service.
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