Recent News

Baltimore Confronts Enduring Racial Health Disparities (Nonprofit Quarterly)

Nov 22nd, 2017

Life expectancy in 14 of Baltimore’s predominantly Black neighborhoods is now lower than North Korea’s, notes Jim Grossfeld in the American Prospect. This is true even though, as Grossfeld points out, Baltimore is home to Johns Hopkins, which, Grossfeld observes, “Together with the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic…is part of the trinity of top-ranked US hospitals—a latter-day Lourdes to which sick people from around the world beat a path, hoping to find cures they’ll find nowhere else.” 

The Baltimore City Health Department, in its “Healthy Baltimore 2020: A Blueprint for Health” report, points out that “although 97 percent of health-care dollars are spent on the health-care system, only 10 percent of what determines life expectancy actually happens ‘within the four walls of a clinic.’ The other 90 percent is decided upstream, where people live, work, go to school, and spend their free time.”

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Wen to Social Workers: Addiction Stigma Must End (UMB News)

Nov 21st, 2017

These are the three guideposts to improving public health outcomes in the city, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana S. Wen, MD, MSc, FAAEM, told an auditorium of social workers Nov. 14 at the University of Maryland School of Social Work (SSW) Daniel Thursz Social Justice Lecture.

Read the entire story.

Leana Wenopioids

Public Health Heroes: Environmental Inspection Services extends far beyond restaurant closures

Nov 17th, 2017

Each day the Baltimore City Health Department’s (BCHD) Bureau of Environmental Health, Environmental Inspection Services (EIS) carries out routine inspections at some of Baltimore’s 5,000 food establishments to ensure that health standards are being met and to certify that businesses are doing their best to keep their customers safe from food-borne illnesses. 

Environmental Inspection team

Note From The Commissioner: Open Enrollment

Nov 17th, 2017

Earlier this week, I joined Congressman Elijah Cummings to urge all Marylanders to sign up for health insurance at marylandhealthconnection.gov. Open enrollment ends Dec 15th. Health insurance is about protecting yourself, your family, and all those around you. Congressman Cummings and I know that no one plans to be sick, but having health insurance provides peace of mind. After all, access to health is access to life.

Last weekend, Mayor Pugh led the Mayor’s Run as part of BCHD’s Healthy Baltimore Initiative and Billion Step Challenge. Baltimore City residents and BCHD staff braved the chilly temperatures to run two miles with the Mayor. I want to thank Mayor Pugh for supporting our Billion Step Challenge and for encouraging Baltimoreans to get active.

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Baltimore City Announces Beginning of Code Blue Season

Nov 15th, 2017

BALTIMORE, MD (November 15, 2017)—Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today announced the start of Baltimore City’s Code Blue program for the coming winter. 

Note From The Commissioner: Continuing Our Work

Nov 10th, 2017

I brought a special guest to my official swearing in at City Hall last week – my 11-week-old son, Eli (pictured). I am honored to be sworn-in for a second term, and look forward to continue working with the dedicated staff at BCHD. I want to thank Mayor Pugh for the opportunity to continue serving Baltimore and to protect health and improve well-being for all residents in our City.

Every day, I feel fortunate to have a job I love and to work with people who understand how health is integrally tied to social justice and the future of our communities. Our City has many health challenges, but we must also call attention to the progress that we have made in improving health outcomes.

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Note From The Commissioner: What We Can Do

Nov 3rd, 2017

On Monday, I was honored to join President Bill Clinton to discuss the opioid epidemic. Our conversation centered on what we CAN do to save lives. The problem is complex, but there are solutions that work, including many of our pilots here in Baltimore for blanket prescriptions of naloxone, expanding treatment access, and fighting stigma. Thanks to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for hosting the day and to our other tremendous leaders who were there including Baltimore's own Representative Elijah E. Cummings!

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Baltimore City Health Commissioner Responds to the Final Report by the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis

Nov 1st, 2017

“While the final report issued today by the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis addresses critical aspects of the fight against the nation’s opioid epidemic, it does not go nearly far enough."

Trump to issue opioid 'emergency' declaration. Maryland leaders hope it prompts real change. (Baltimore Sun)

Oct 30th, 2017

“A state of emergency is long overdue,” said Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, a national voice on the issue. “Imagine if this was ebola and there were over 100 people dying a day. There’d be no question.”

To read the story, click here.

Leana Wen

Trump declares opioids 'public health emergency,'; Commissioner Wen urges stronger action (Baltimore Business Journal)

Oct 30th, 2017

The Trump Administration declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency on Thursday. But Baltimore's Health Commissioner said that's not enough.

To read the story, click here.

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