Recent News

"New Legislation Requires Restaurants To Publicly Detail Health Inspection Closures" (WJZ) August 6, 2015

Baltimore’s mayor signs legislation on Thursday that requires restaurants to publicly post reason for closures resulting from health inspections. The city inspects roughly 5,000 restaurants a year and only 100 actually get shut down for violations. With this new law you’ll be able to know why.

"Can A 32-Year-Old Doctor Cure Baltimore's Ills?" (NPR) August 6, 2015

Neighborhoods in Baltimore are still struggling to recover from the riots that broke out following the funeral of Freddie Gray. In the aftermath of the unrest, we here at NPR spent many hours trying to understand the raw anger on display. We looked at police brutality, economic disparities and housing segregation in Baltimore. Our conversations eventually led us to Leana Wen.

Making Breastfeeding Work In Baltimore City

The mission of public health is to reduce health disparities and level the playing field for all to be healthy and well.  And this starts with infancy. We know that breastfeeding is more than a tradition handed down from generation to generation, but is a lifesaving technique.  Breast milk provides baby’s first immunizations, prevents infections and wards off illnesses, reduces infant mortality and increases the emotional bond between mother and child.

Making Breastfeeding Work In Baltimore City

“World Breastfeeding Week” Calls for Greater Workplace Accommodations

As part of “World Breastfeeding Week,” the Baltimore City Health Department’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is hosting several events this week to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding. Included are a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award Ceremony—recognition to local businesses that make special accommodations for breastfeeding employees—and the “Fifth Annual Grand Baby Shower” for pregnant and breastfeeding moms enrolled in the WIC program.

"Response, recover and rebuilding Baltimore" (Baltimore Sun Op-Ed) August 2, 2015

There have been many accounts of the city's response on April 27th and the days following. In this last of my six-column series, I'd like to share the story of the Baltimore City Health Department's immediate response and ongoing recovery efforts.

"Baltimore Health Department Helps Affected Citizens After Riots" (Psychiatric News) July 31,2015

In July, Baltimore City health officials and others continued their response to the physical and mental health needs of people affected by the riots and arson following the death in police custody of Freddie Gray. Their work began in the midst of the unrest on the night of April 27, when the Baltimore City Health Department developed a security plan and an operational list of local hospitals, Commissioner Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc., told Psychiatric News.

"Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen" (Kojo Namdi Show) July 30, 2015

Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore’s new health commissioner, has been compared to a “lit firecracker.” A Harvard-trained emergency physician who started college at 13, Wen’s dynamic career has taken her from inner-city clinics to the halls of academia. Not afraid to ruffle feathers within the medical community, Wen now turns her attention to the public health challenges in one of the country’s poorest cities — from heroin and prescription drug abuse to the endemic health problems wracking poor neighborhoods. Kojo sits down with Wen to talk about her first months on the job, how she’s prioritizing public health needs, and how her personal story instructs her vision for health policy and progress in Baltimore.

Over Twenty Animals Perish in Local Fire

Last night, BCHD’s Office of Animal Control was called to Morrell Park to respond to the scene of a fire in which a number of animals were believed to have died. Twelve Himalayan adult cats, 11 kittens and two dogs were confirmed dead on the scene.

Baltimore Awarded Federal Funds to Combat Substance Abuse

Baltimore city will receive federal funds for up to three years to treat substance abuse from a new grant awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services.

"Baltimore to use federal grant for ER heroin response" (Baltimore Business Journal) July 29, 2015

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen wants the city’s emergency departments to play a bigger role in addressing residents’ heroin and substance abuse problems. Along with local emergency department leaders, the city’s health department is developing a program that would better connect patients with counselors, specialists and treatment for substance abuse. The project will be backed by Baltimore’s share of a $815,000 federal grant awarded to the state health department for medication-supported substance abuse programs.

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