Bmore Healthy Blog

B'More for Healthy Babies Celebrates 7 Successful Years!

Oct 14th, 2016

Baltimore City Health Department employees, elected officials, city representatives, and families from across Baltimore City came together on Thursday evening at the National Aquarium to celebrate seven years of success in reducing infant mortality rates at an event honoring the B'more for Healthy Babies initiative.

Last week, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Dr. Wen, and community partners celebrated the lowest recorded infant mortality rate in the city – a 38 percent reduction since B’More for Healthy Babies began.

Dr. Wen Speaks on Future of Health at Consumer Reports 80th Anniversary Celebration

Oct 14th, 2016

On Thursday, Dr. Wen spoke on a panel for Consumer Reports’ 80th Anniversary event with Julia Angwin, Senior Reporter at ProPublica, Michel Nischan, chef and food activist, and moderator Wendy Bounds, Executive Director, Content for Consumer Reports about the future of healthcare.On Thursday, Dr. Wen travelled to New York City to speak on a panel for Consumer Reports’ 80th Anniversary event.

BCHD Hosts Community Celebration for ReCAST Grant

Oct 14th, 2016

Earlier this week, Health Commission Dr. Leana Wen, U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) representative Melodye Watson, and BCHD Youth Health and Wellness Coordinator Andy Masters joined dozens of community members in the Penn-North to discuss how a newly awarded five-year, $5 million ReCAST grant will help change the way we view our communities and how others view Baltimore.

Dr. Wen Speaks on Leading Ladies Panel at WOW Conference

Oct 14th, 2016

Last Saturday, Dr. Leana Wen spent the afternoon at Notre Dame of Maryland University with Redonda Miller, President of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sonja Santelises, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, Chief Melissa Hyatt: Special Operations and Development Devision of the Baltimore Police Department, and moderator Denis Koch, WJT-TV News Anchor, speaking on the Women of the World (WOW) Baltimore Leading Ladies Panel.

Dr. Wen Attends First Maryland Black Caucus Public Hearing in Annapolis

Oct 7th, 2016

On Thursday, Dr. Wen was invited to Annapolis by Delegate Glenn to speak on behalf of the Baltimore City Health Department at the Black Caucus’ first-ever public hearing. While there, she spoke about some of the major issues faced by the black community in Baltimore City. One of the most important issues for legislation in the upcoming session will be related to the opioid epidemic, in particular heroin, because it has a disproportionate negative impact on our black communities. 

Opioid Overdose Prevention Trainings Take Place during “Day to Save”

Oct 7th, 2016

Earlier today, Behavioral Health System Baltimore and the Baltimore City Health Department convened 30 volunteers to conduct opioid overdose prevention outreach during the first-ever 'Day to Save.' Volunteers, BHSB staff, and BCHD staff met at Lexington Market which is considered an overdose hotspot, making it one of the highest risk areas in Baltimore.

Dr. Wen and Baltimore Corps Fellows Visit JHU for Naloxone Training

Oct 7th, 2016

On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Wen joined former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson’s class at Johns Hopkins University to discuss public health in Baltimore City. Dr. Wen captivated students while discussing the various roles and functions of BCHD, including restaurant inspections and animal control, as well as elaborated about the larger health issues facing the city: food and nutrition, opioid overdose, and HIV. During the conversation about opioid overdose and its prevention, Dr. Wen discussed one of the major problems in public health today, which is the severe lack of funding. She said that one of her greatest battles in this field is ensuring that these issues have a “seat at the table” and are constantly being made known to the public and legislators. She reminded the students that this is so crucial in the field because “your life is saved by public health every day, you just don’t know about it.”

Health Commissioner Dr. Wen Speaks at Open Society Institute’s Solutions Summit

Oct 7th, 2016

Last Saturday, Dr. Wen spoke at the Open Society Institute’s Solutions Summit to address the public health issues faced by Baltimore City in the realm of behavioral health. The Solutions Summit is the fourth step in OSI’s process to approach the office of the Mayor with significant actionable steps to address the major issues. OSI began the process in early 2016 to convene a community of voices based behavioral health providers, consumers, and advocates to surface critical issues they face in their work in the field of behavioral health in Baltimore. OSI specifically focuses on drug addiction treatment, criminal and juvenile justice, and education while focusing on the nexus between race and poverty.

Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Future’s 25th Anniversary Event

Oct 5th, 2016

On Monday, Dr. Wen joined Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Comptroller Joan Pratt, Arlington Middle and Elementary School Principal Emily Hunter, representatives from Colgate Dr. Marsha Butler and Dawna Fields, and Ravens Wide Receiver Steve Smith Sr. to celebrate Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Future 25th anniversary. Baltimore City Public Schools partners with Colgate to ensure that hundreds of students have access to oral cancer and cavity screenings provided on a mobile van. The program also teaches children the importance of dental hygiene.

HIV Planning Group seeks to spark important conversations about sexual health among seniors

Sep 13th, 2016

Senior citizens, often overlooked in discussions of sexual health, are receiving the attention they deserve in a new initiative focused on HIV and aging. 

Pages