20 Under 40: Dr. Jamie Fleet

Meet Dr. Jamie Fleet, 36, physician & clinician researcher, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, assistant professor, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and one of our 20 Under 40 Class of 2024 recipients

AS A DEDICATED physician and researcher, Dr. Jamie Fleet divides her time between hands-on patient care and research work. On the patient side, she counsels patients on their prognosis and recovery post stroke, helps to manage pain and focuses on minimizing risk factors for another stroke. Her research tackles stroke prevention as well as preventing falls and fractures in people with disabilities. With a formidable history of publishing important studies, she has had more than 35 papers accepted for publication (for perspective, females in medicine publish, on average, about one paper every two years). Bringing dedication, perseverance and good-natured humour to every challenge, she is an engaged and enthusiastic advocate for improved outcomes and collaborative care.

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What would you say is your single biggest business achievement, and why?

My biggest business achievement isn’t an award I’ve received or a paper I’ve published — it’s getting a job at Parkwood Institute. My grandma, who was my biggest supporter, was previously a patient here, and always spoke so highly of the care she received. I wish she was around to see that I finally made it back to London and working at Parkwood. She would be so proud.

What about your biggest business obstacle, and how did you face it?

My ongoing biggest obstacle is trying to be a good doctor mom. You want to be there for your child all the time, but you also want to excel professionally. There’s also a lot of work about being a physician that doesn’t let you excel per se but is just part of the job. I try to get up an hour before my son to get a handle on my emails and tasks for the day — and have a few sips of coffee while it’s actually hot.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t say yes to everything. A mentor told me that at the beginning of my career but I’m stubborn. Only say yes to the things that are necessary or bring you joy. And not everything you think is necessary is actually necessary.

Let’s say you’re marooned on a ­desert island — what’s the one thing you need with you?

Coffee. I have four to six per day and wouldn’t survive long without it.

If you weren’t working in your current field, what would you be doing?

Being a wedding planner or travel agent. But I’d really only be good at this when there’s an unlimited budget. Interview by Kieran Delamont