Recent News

"We can cure violence" (Baltimore Sun) June 7, 2015

Violence prevention is a key function of public health. In many ways, violence is no different from an infectious disease. Just like measles or the flu, it is contagious and spreads from person to person. It creates fear and wreaks havoc. It results in illness, trauma and death.

"My First Time in a Strip Club" (New York Times) June 5, 2015

The first time most guys go into a strip club, it’s party time. Alcohol pours. Dancers sell dreams. Groomsmen pick up the tab as lap dances go to the bachelor. A 21st birthday party ends with a crowded drunk selfie followed by some “tag me in that” pleas. My first time in a strip club was a little different. I wasn’t there for a drink or lap dance. I wasn’t with my boys. I was with Nathan Fields, a community health educator for the Baltimore Public Health Department, as he made his weekly rounds at strip clubs on East Baltimore Street, or “The Block,” as it’s known.

On-the-street efforts to stop the violence in Baltimore (WYPR) June 5, 2015

Amid a spike in homicides since the Baltimore riots in April, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake earlier this week pointed to a bright spot in efforts to reduce violence in the city: Safe Streets,  an effort of the Baltimore City Health Department which hires mostly ex-offenders to stop violence in four Baltimore neighborhoods. We sit down with Greg Marshburn, an Outreach Supervisor for Safe Streets at its Mondawmin site in West Baltimore, and Dante Barksdale, an Outreach Coordinator for Safe Streets, to talk about stopping violence in Baltimore.

"Teen pregnancy in Baltimore" (WYPR) June 3, 2015

Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen was a guest on WYPR's Midday with Dan Rodricks discussing violence prevention, Safe Streets, health disparities, substance addiction, the need for increased naloxone training, and teen pregnancy prevention issues.

"Baltimore mayor touts 'Safe Streets Zone' success" (WBAL-TV) June 2, 2015

Despite the continuing violence, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is celebrating crime reduction more than a year without a deadly shooting in a Safe Streets Zone. Rawlings-Blake called the success an important milestone for the city. The mayor said thanks to the Safe Streets team and the community for the hard work they've done in reducing violence. The last fatal shooting in Cherry Hill was April 22, 2014.

"Baltimore's Cherry Hill celebrates more than a year without a murder" (WMAR-TV)

It is a neighborhood those born and raised in say has a reputation they are always fighting to overcome. Now there is proof, they say, that fight is working. It has been more than 400 days since someone was killed in the streets of Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighborhood. 

"Health Department Announces OneBaltimore / Baltimore Corps Team To Lead Department’s Public Health Recovery Efforts"

The Baltimore City Health Department announces the selection of a team of fellows to lead the agency’s public health recovery efforts under Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s OneBaltimore initiative. 

"Evaluation Confirms Patient Seen At Hopkins Does Not Have Ebola"

The Baltimore City Health Department reports that clinical evaluation and laboratory tests conducted at Johns Hopkins Hospital have ruled out a diagnosis of Ebola for the patient who was admitted yesterday with a chief complaint of fever and a recent travel history to West Africa. The patient is expected to be discharged from the hospital today and poses no risk to the general public.

"Baltimore City Health Department Confirms Patient Being Evaluated For Fever; No Danger To Public Suspected"

The Baltimore City Health Department can confirm that a patient is undergoing evaluation at Johns Hopkins Hospital with a chief complaint of fever after recently returning from West Africa.  The patient is currently being treated in an isolation room. The initial evaluation is suggestive of a diagnosis other than Ebola infection but further tests are ongoing. “The testing is being done out of an abundance of caution,” said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.  

"Mental health resources available to children traumatized by Baltimore riots" (WMAR-ABC2) May 27, 2015

As video of fires and looting played out on televisions across the country, many kids were living it. "Trauma in general at the level that we saw in our city has caused more concern for mental health across the board. These are scars that will follow people throughout their lives and it’s important for us to address it now,” Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen said.

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