Recent News

Dr. Leana Wen Interviewed on Matter of Fact

Sep 26th, 2017

Dr. Leana Wen was interviewed by Soledad O'Brien on Matter of Fact on Sepember 13, 2017 about the opioid crisis. WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore televised the interview live. You can view it here.

Leana WenOpioid

Cities turn to doulas to give black babies a better chance at survival (Washington Post)

Sep 25th, 2017

BALTIMORE — This city has opened a new front in its effort to give black newborns the same chances of surviving infancy as white ones: training doulas to assist expectant mothers during pregnancy, delivery and afterward.

The initiative is the latest salvo in the Baltimore City Health Department's seven-year-old effort to combat high mortality rates among black newborns.

Read the entire story.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Says Graham-Cassidy Health Care Proposal Is Detrimental to Nation’s Health

Sep 21st, 2017

BALTIMORE, MD (September 21, 2017) – Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today issued the following statement in response to the intended vote on legislation by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy that would turn federal health insurance funding into block grants.

Baltimore must lead the way on environmental advocacy (Baltimore Sun)

Sep 17th, 2017

An op-ed from Cameron Clarke, who served as a Health Equity Fellow with the Baltimore City Health Department.

Read the entire story.

Declare a true state of emergency (The Hill)

Sep 13th, 2017

Several weeks ago, President Trump stated that the opioid crisis was a “national emergency.” To many of us in public health, it was a confusing statement. Just a few days earlier, the president and Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price stated that they would not declare a state of emergency, claiming that emergencies are time-bound and resource-finite situations.

As an emergency physician and Commissioner of Health in Baltimore City — where approximately two people a day die from overdose — I can tell you that is not the case. Addiction is a disease, treatment exists and communities around the country are succeeding in fighting the epidemic.

Read the entire story.

 

Leana WenOpioid

Study: Free glasses improved Baltimore students' test scores (AOL)

Sep 11th, 2017

A program launched in a number of Baltimore schools last year has helped students get better grades and higher test scores. A collaboration among a number of groups, including the Baltimore City Health Department and Johns Hopkins University, the Vision for Baltimore initiative was launched in large part to help those whose families may not be able to afford such services.

Read the entire story.

Vision for Baltimore

BCHD Trains Residents to Save Lives on International Overdose Awareness Day

Sep 1st, 2017

Baltimore, MD (August 31, 2017) – Today, Baltimore City Health Officials and partners highlighted Baltimore’s ongoing response to the overdose epidemic in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day, a global annual event to raise awareness of overdose and reduce stigma associated with the disease of addiction.

As opioid crisis spreads, treatments remain underutilized (Daily Record)

Aug 29th, 2017

The opioid epidemic raging across the country recognizes few boundaries. Its victims are young and old, the highly educated and high school dropouts, rich and poor, women and men.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said that one of the many obstacles to overcome in treating opioid misuse is the pernicious stigma that attaches to drug addiction. 

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

BCHD Interns Discuss Zika Virus with University of Maryland Baltimore Police Officers

Aug 25th, 2017

Taylor Owens and Vernon Stepney, two BCHD interns who are rising juniors at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, conducted a Zika presentation to the University of Maryland Baltimore Police Depar

BCHD interns Vernon and Taylor present about the Zika virus

Public Health Heroes: BCHD Animal Control Officers Often Save Humans, Too

Aug 25th, 2017

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Animal Enforcement Officer Supervisor Hodge made his way to the courthouse to get a warrant signed regarding an investigation of a home where animal abuse was suspected of taking place. Officer Hodge and other Animal Control staff met with Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers to go to the house to execute the warrant. After entering the house, the Animal Control Officers did not find any of the dogs. Instead, the officers found the floors covered in dog feces and trash and a rancid smell in the air. What appeared to be a vacant home actually housed a family with two small infants.

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