This week was my first full week back. Nine weeks ago, my husband and I welcomed our son, Eli, into the world. These weeks have been the happiest of my life, but they have also been among the most challenging. I wrote about my experience being a new mother, and how raising a newborn gave me even more passion for our work to provide resources and support, and to serve the most vulnerable.

On Wednesday, hundreds of families gathered at the National Aquarium to celebrate the anniversary of our signature B’More for Healthy Babies initiative. There is much to celebrate: BHB has cut infant mortality by nearly 40% and reduced the disparity between African-American and white infant mortality by half. BHB’s engagements with Baltimore’s hospitals, community organizations, and churches has led to a 70% reduction in sleep-related infant deaths in seven years.

Our work addressing health disparities in Baltimore also extends to myriad of other public health challenges, including the opioid crisis. Yesterday, President Trump made an announcement about the opioid epidemic that stopped short of a full declaration of a national state of emergency. Communities like ours in Baltimore City have lost thousands of lives from addiction for decades. I provided remarks to PBS News Hour, The Washington Post, Baltimore Business Journal, and USA Today and discussedwhy we must go beyond the rhetoric and ensure that the declaration of emergency comes with the will and resources to truly treat this devastating disease 

I am happy to be back at work to improve well-being and strive for health equity, and look forward to seeing all of you very soon!

Sincerely,

Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc.

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