Dr. Amanda Ritvo is the latest candidate running for the one available seat on the Board of Health in the June election. She’s a family medicine practitioner at Mass General Primary Care in Swampscott, where her husband is also a physician. They’re raising two children, ages 2 and 4.
Ritvo tells the Current that she has always been interested in public health.
“My undergraduate major at George Washington University was public health, and I’ve used my public health medicine background to help care for the community at large,” she said.
She’s especially interested in children’s mental health.
“We should be having conversations about delaying smartphone use until high school,” Ritvo said. That’s going to require a major culture shift. I’d like to be a support for the School Board.”
Rivto continued, “I’d like to help create more community programs. When kids are off their cell phones, they’ll need more social interaction and real-life play.”
The New Jersey native said she was compelled to run the Board of Health partly in response to recent developments on the federal level.
“I want to be a trusted voice for the community,” she said. “There’s a lot of misinformation online regarding public health. I want to share evidence-based data and knowledge.”
She’s especially concerned about the rise in vaccine hesitancy.
“You worry about the next big thing,” she said. We’re talking about the bird flu. We might need a vaccine to prevent that at some point. And we’re still seeing significant hospitalizations from COVID and the flu.”
She added, “I know it can feel overwhelming to people. There are lots of new vaccines (for COVID, pneumonia, RSV). If we can have more of an open dialogue and conversations, we can help change people’s minds.”
You can learn about Ritvo at her website HERE.
Board of Health Chair Helaine Hazlett announced last month that she will not be seeking another term. One other candidate, Kim Crowley, has also announced a run for the seat.
