News Coverage

Decisive leadership: Baltimore Health Commissioner Leana Wen sees the ER as a valuable training ground for physician leaders (Furst Group)

Aug 15th, 2018

In the age of value-based care, organizations are leaning on clinicians to lean in to leadership. This opens new vistas for physicians and nurses, but health systems and insurers must do their homework. A physician who heads his or her own practice may have valuable leadership skills, but leading, say, a staff of 12 is different from overseeing a $2 billion budget and ensuring a board and a C-suite are in sync with your vision.

One such physician who has made the jump is Leana Wen, MD, the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, who leads a staff of 1,000 employees. Since being named to the role in December 2014, Wen has shown a predilection for taking decisive action, perhaps unsurprising as someone trained as an emergency room physician.

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Leana Wen

Baltimore Health Commissioner Posts Statement On ACA Lawsuit (WJZ)

Aug 9th, 2018

 The health commissioner of Baltimore City made a statement Thursday in a Facebook post about the suit filed against the Trump administration for “intentionally and unlawfully sabotaging the Affordable Care Act.

“I am gravely concerned for the wellbeing of my patients, my city and millions of individuals who are finding themselves unable to afford health care,” Dr. Leana Wen, city health commissioner, said.

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Leana Wen

'Code Red' announced for Baltimore Wednesday, cooling centers to open (WBFF)

Aug 8th, 2018

Baltimore's health commissioner is announcing a "Code Red" extreme heat alert for the city for Wednesday and opening cooling centers.

Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen notes the heat index is expected to be higher than 100 degrees, as the heat wave hangs on.

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Leana Wen

On Health Matters, Cities Are Increasingly Going to Court (Governing)

Aug 8th, 2018

Cities used to stay out of courtroom battles over health, leaving that role predominantly to state governments. In the 1990s, states sued the tobacco industry and won more than $200 billion for the damages it had done to public health. States have filed lawsuits against and in defense of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

But in recent years, more and more cities have been going to court.

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Leana Wen

Baltimore weather: Evening thunderstorms hit region (Baltimore Sun)

Aug 8th, 2018

After a day of sweltering heat, evening scattered showers and thunderstorms Wednesday were expected to bring damaging winds and heavy rain and potential flooding, the National Weather Service warned.

“Heat is a silent killer,” Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said in a news release advising of the dangers heat could bring for the young, elderly and those with chronic medical conditions.

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Leana Wen

Healthwatch with Dr. Leana Wen (WYPR)

Aug 8th, 2018

In this edition of Midday’s “Healthwatch” with Tom Hall, Dr.

Leana Wen

Code Red Extreme Heat Alert Issued For Wednesday (WJZ)

Aug 7th, 2018

With continued heat in the Baltimore area and a heat index expected to be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit Wednesday, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen has issued a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert for Wednesday.

“Heat is a silent killer and a public health threat, particularly for the young, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions,” Dr. Wen said. “All residents should protect against hyperthermia and dehydration. It’s important to stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay in touch with your neighbors, especially seniors and medically frail individuals who live alone or without air conditioning during times of extreme heat.” – Dr. Leana Wen

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Leana Wen

Baltimore City Councilwoman will introduce legislation to improve lactation accommodations (Baltimore Sun)

Aug 6th, 2018

A Baltimore City Councilwoman introduced legislation Monday designed to improve lactation accommodations and ease new mothers’ transitions back into the workplace.

Councilwoman Shannon Sneed — who often brings her young daughter to public hearings and council meetings — said all working mothers “deserve the ability to lactate if they return to work by choice or by necessity.” Mothers, she said, shouldn’t have to choose between their careers and their child’s wellness.

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Leana Wen

Baltimore ‘Back-To-School Rally’ Gets Kids Prepared (WJZ)

Aug 4th, 2018

Baltimore City students will head back to class one month from today.

Mayor Pugh's annual back-to-school rally distributes around 3,200 free backpacks (Baltimore Sun)

Aug 4th, 2018

Parents and children lined up to get free backpacks decorated with smiley faces, baseball bats and sharks, and filled with school supplies at Mayor Catherine Pugh’s annual back-to-school rally.

The event, hosted at the War Memorial Plaza downtown Saturday, distributed around 3,200 backpacks ahead of the Sept. 4 start date for city schools. Fewer than 100 backpacks were left over, which will be distributed next week, Pugh spokesman James E. Bentley II wrote via text message.

The rally also featured an array of sponsors, including the Baltimore Fire Department, which taught hands-on CPR; the Enoch Pratt Library; and the Baltimore City Health Department, which delivered immunizations to children in the War Memorial Building.

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