Recent News

Baltimore to join lawsuit against U.S. health agency over cuts to programs that help prevent teen pregnancy (Baltimore Sun)

Baltimore is planning to join a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration that challenges a cut in federal funding for programs designed to reduce teen pregnancy rates.

“We should be doing everything we can to empower youth to succeed and to thrive,” Dr. Leana Wen said in a statement. 

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Leana Wen

Baltimore to sue feds over cuts to teen pregnancy program (Baltimore Business Journal)

Baltimore City is filing suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over funding cuts to the city's Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. "The termination of our grant is shocking and unprecedented. It creates a huge gap in our ability to provide services to our residents," Dr. Leana Wen said in a statement. 

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Battling Opioids on the Streets, the ER and City Hall (National Press Foundation)

Would we ever tell somebody who has had a heart attack that they need to wait three weeks for treatment? That’s one of the questions that Dr. Leana Wen, health commissioner for the city of Baltimore, asks as she tries to convince public health officials – and the public in general – to rethink their attitudes about addiction. “We know that treating addiction as a crime won’t work,” she said.

To read the entire article, click here.

Leana WenOpioid

New student-run speaker series at Johns Hopkins focuses on health, medicine (HUB)

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen spoke at the first Osler Medical Symposium on March 2.

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Leana Wen

Bmore Healthy Newsletter: March 2, 2018

Click here to read the 3/2/18 newsletter. Subscribe to the Bmore Healthy newsletter.

In this issue:

  • Note from the Commissioner
  • Dr. Wen Speaks at Kerner Commission Conference
  • WYPR 88.1FM – Dr. Wen Participates in Midday’s “Healthwatch” Segment
  • Dr. Wen Voices Strong Support for The Healthy Beverages for Children’s Meal Bill
  • and more

Note From The Commissioner: Making the Healthy Choice, the Easy Choice

As a doctor, it used to be that I treated only adults with chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. But now, I treat teenagers as young as 13 with these conditions. These kids grow up to be adults who will suffer and die from heart disease, the number one killer of men and women in our City. In Baltimore, one-in-three high school children are obese. It’s no coincidence that one-in-four school-aged children drink one or more soda per day. Public health leaders and doctors agree: sugary drinks are a major contributor to childhood obesity. Taking these empty calories out of children’s diets is the single biggest change parents can make.

Two years ago, I fought to protect our residents by supporting legislation in the Baltimore City Council that places warning labels on all sugary drink advertisements, restaurant menus, and stores that sell these drinks. The warning label included important facts about the dangers of sugary drinks and would have leveled the information playing field for consumers. Yet, despite the support of over 2,000 pediatricians, public health leaders, and advocates, the bill failed.

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Maryland House passes bill, named for lawmaker's slain grandson, to expand Safe Streets anti-violence program (Baltimore Sun)

The Maryland House of Delegates on Friday passed a bill to fund the expansion of Safe Streets, an anti-violence program that has reduced shootings and homicides in some Baltimore neighborhoods.

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Safe Streets

Wen: State needs to follow Baltimore City, pass bill on healthy drinks for kids (WEAA)

Dr. Wen talks to WEAA about the healthy drinks bill and other issues - including state protections for the Affordable Care Act.

Listen to the interview here.

Leana Wen

A Baltimore Bill Would Change The Beverages Served With Kids' Meals (Forbes)

B'more is the nickname for Baltimore. But if this bill is signed into law, there may be less sugary drinks with kids' meals.

To read the entire article, click here.

Leana Wen

Dr. Wen on WYPR's Midday Healthwatch

Dr. Wen was interviewed on WYPR's Midday Healthwatch, where she talked about some of the key legislative battles being waged over public health policy, and addressed listeners' comments and questions.

Listen to the full interview.

Leana WenAffordable Care Actopioidsnaloxone

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