A visit to Doc Peacock's Greenfield Country Medicine is said by many to be a comforting return to family medicine as it was practiced prior to the advent of HMOs and before the patient became a faceless fifteen-minute time slot on the office calendar.
"I'm just Jama; we don't stand on pretentions here," says family practioner Jama Peacock, MD.
Her practice has been located at the crossroads of Wilton and Locust Grove Roads in Greenfield Center for the past year on fourteen acres of idyllic farmland reminiscent of places that inspired European landscape painters two hundred years ago. Many will remember this beautiful place that exists just a short drive north of Saratoga Springs off Route 9N as the site of the old Brookside Dairy, and subsequently the Wayside Inn and Conference Center.
Peacock's comprehensive medical practice that treats every member of the family is now an integral part of an evolving complex that includes private apartments and a banquet and event center opening in the near future that will be able to accommodate large events such as weddings, corporate events and car shows.
Peacock is as passionate about family medicine as she is about serving the community.
A Greenfield native and the single mother of a 10-year-old son, she cites the example of her father, retired Town of Ballston physician Dr. Russell Peacock as influential in her own desire to eventually pursue a career in medicine. It seems her path was virtually determined at birth; her father named her Jama in homage to the Journal of American Medicine. She says she knew she always wanted to follow in his footsteps by starting her own practice in Greenfield.
A former teacher who attended college in Iowa, Peacock's background is versatile. She earned a master's degree in biology with a concentration on genetics, and was initially considering a future in research. Upon returning to the area, she held positions as a medical and corrections officer at the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in Ballston. Continuing her studies to obtain a second master's degree, she attended Union College in Schenectady. "I knew I had a special affinity for working with children, and I became a teacher at Taconic Hills in Claverack." After school, she coached many team sports and cheerleading there.
Always looking for a new challenge, she decided to take the medical entrance exam, and was accepted at Albany Medical College within two weeks of passing. She became a physician, a mother, and then a single parent in a relatively short period of time "I am a Mom first. I realize that not everyone can be seen during business hours. I do house calls to my patients that are homebound on Wednesdays. I serve on a per diem basis at Saratoga Hospital with the Saratoga Hospital Inpatient Physicians Group and am the attending physician for the Greenfield Fire District." Her practice has been integrating four companies of volunteer firefighters for annual physicals. Many of them have brought family members to her to get established with a physician for regular health care.
Evelyn Ladd of Porter Corners is the wife of a retired Greenfield firefighter. "I can't say enough about Dr. Peacock; my last physician retired and I had no idea where to go. My husband was seen in this office for a fire department physical and said he was pleased with the way patients are treated here."
Greenfield Fire Commissioner Richard Spackmann says that Peacock sees about 160-180 volunteer firefighters each year for their physicals and that she has championed the local fire department's health initiative by taking it to a new level entirely. "Jama came on with a great approach; she is personable; I can discuss anything with her. She truly has an open door that my firefighters are comfortable with." Peacock adds, "I put on a suit and went through a drill and quickly realized what they go through." Sometimes working with the volunteer firefighters presents diplomacy challenges. "Being a firefighter is an identity and a way of life for many of these volunteers. I have had to do a lot of research into what each task of the job entails as well as working to match the level of wellbeing and conditioning required to an individual firefighter for the greater effectiveness of each of the four stations. I have had to tell people that maybe it's time to take on a different role at the station; some have been serving for fifty years or more." Peacock also started an immunization program for the firefighters.
Peacock's service to the community at large doesn't stop with the firefighters. She is a board member of the Greenfield Community and Business Association, established in November 2007 to raise awareness of local businesses, service groups and agriculture, while promoting community spirit in the Town of Greenfield. She also participates in efforts underway to establish the Gateway House of Peace, which will be a two-bedroom hospice in Greenfield when a donation of land is secured.
The staff of Doc Peacock's Greenfield Country Medicine, PLLC at 104 Wilton Road consists of Laurie VanValkenburg, Office and Property Manager, Judy Cleveland, Medical Secretary, and Charity Russell, Medical Secretary and Billing Specialist. The practice is accepting new patients and can be contacted by phone at (518) 893-8011.
Her practice has been located at the crossroads of Wilton and Locust Grove Roads in Greenfield Center for the past year on fourteen acres of idyllic farmland reminiscent of places that inspired European landscape painters two hundred years ago. Many will remember this beautiful place that exists just a short drive north of Saratoga Springs off Route 9N as the site of the old Brookside Dairy, and subsequently the Wayside Inn and Conference Center.
Peacock's comprehensive medical practice that treats every member of the family is now an integral part of an evolving complex that includes private apartments and a banquet and event center opening in the near future that will be able to accommodate large events such as weddings, corporate events and car shows.
Peacock is as passionate about family medicine as she is about serving the community.
A Greenfield native and the single mother of a 10-year-old son, she cites the example of her father, retired Town of Ballston physician Dr. Russell Peacock as influential in her own desire to eventually pursue a career in medicine. It seems her path was virtually determined at birth; her father named her Jama in homage to the Journal of American Medicine. She says she knew she always wanted to follow in his footsteps by starting her own practice in Greenfield.
A former teacher who attended college in Iowa, Peacock's background is versatile. She earned a master's degree in biology with a concentration on genetics, and was initially considering a future in research. Upon returning to the area, she held positions as a medical and corrections officer at the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in Ballston. Continuing her studies to obtain a second master's degree, she attended Union College in Schenectady. "I knew I had a special affinity for working with children, and I became a teacher at Taconic Hills in Claverack." After school, she coached many team sports and cheerleading there.
Always looking for a new challenge, she decided to take the medical entrance exam, and was accepted at Albany Medical College within two weeks of passing. She became a physician, a mother, and then a single parent in a relatively short period of time "I am a Mom first. I realize that not everyone can be seen during business hours. I do house calls to my patients that are homebound on Wednesdays. I serve on a per diem basis at Saratoga Hospital with the Saratoga Hospital Inpatient Physicians Group and am the attending physician for the Greenfield Fire District." Her practice has been integrating four companies of volunteer firefighters for annual physicals. Many of them have brought family members to her to get established with a physician for regular health care.
Evelyn Ladd of Porter Corners is the wife of a retired Greenfield firefighter. "I can't say enough about Dr. Peacock; my last physician retired and I had no idea where to go. My husband was seen in this office for a fire department physical and said he was pleased with the way patients are treated here."
Greenfield Fire Commissioner Richard Spackmann says that Peacock sees about 160-180 volunteer firefighters each year for their physicals and that she has championed the local fire department's health initiative by taking it to a new level entirely. "Jama came on with a great approach; she is personable; I can discuss anything with her. She truly has an open door that my firefighters are comfortable with." Peacock adds, "I put on a suit and went through a drill and quickly realized what they go through." Sometimes working with the volunteer firefighters presents diplomacy challenges. "Being a firefighter is an identity and a way of life for many of these volunteers. I have had to do a lot of research into what each task of the job entails as well as working to match the level of wellbeing and conditioning required to an individual firefighter for the greater effectiveness of each of the four stations. I have had to tell people that maybe it's time to take on a different role at the station; some have been serving for fifty years or more." Peacock also started an immunization program for the firefighters.
Peacock's service to the community at large doesn't stop with the firefighters. She is a board member of the Greenfield Community and Business Association, established in November 2007 to raise awareness of local businesses, service groups and agriculture, while promoting community spirit in the Town of Greenfield. She also participates in efforts underway to establish the Gateway House of Peace, which will be a two-bedroom hospice in Greenfield when a donation of land is secured.
The staff of Doc Peacock's Greenfield Country Medicine, PLLC at 104 Wilton Road consists of Laurie VanValkenburg, Office and Property Manager, Judy Cleveland, Medical Secretary, and Charity Russell, Medical Secretary and Billing Specialist. The practice is accepting new patients and can be contacted by phone at (518) 893-8011.
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