Senator Barbara Mikulski likes to say that one should “Do what you’re best at, and what you’re needed for.” I was honored to be selected as one of Governing’s 2017 Public Officials of the Year and to be among a group of public servants who exemplify that sentiment. Other awardees included Governor Terry McAuliffe (Virginia), Mayor Greg Stanton (Phoenix, Arizona), and Sheriff Tom Dart (Cook County, Illinois). I am so proud to serve alongside the men and women of the Baltimore City Health Department to protect the most vulnerable and to deliver health – a human right – to all.

Public health’s primary duty is to help people where they are and to regard every person with dignity and humanity. Every day, I am inspired and filled with gratitude for my incredible colleagues who carry out these duties and “do what we’re best at and what we’re needed for.”

Public health is one tool to ensure that where our children live does not determine if they live. On Monday, we announced our Safe Sleep campaign with our Child Fatality Review Team, emphasizing the ABCs of Safe Sleep for infants: Alone, on their Back, in the Crib, Don’t Smoke. We have over 150 partners, including HealthCare Access Maryland, hospitals, and community messengers, who work to spread our Safe Sleep message. Additionally, our B’More for Healthy Babies initiative provides services like home visiting, free crib deliveries, and linkages to prenatal care.

In seven years, we have reduced infant mortality in our city by nearly 40 percent – from a record high of 27 infant sleep-related deaths in 2009 to a record low of 7 in 2016. However, there has been an uptick this year, with 12 babies dying in their sleep so far in Baltimore City. We reviewed these cases during our meetings with the Child Fatality Review team, and are doubling down on our interagency efforts to address them. All of us must do our part to protect the most vulnerable in our community. One baby dying is one too many. We must work together to reduce infant sleep-related deaths.

Sincerely,

Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc.

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