Baltimore City Health Department

Baltimore's reputation as one of the country's most violent cities has been difficult to change. Which is why city leaders have started turning to programs like Safe Streets, an alternative approach to reducing violence.

Just released - watch our PSA where Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen reminds Baltimoreans of the importance for vaccinating children against measles to protect families and communities! This is a great partnership with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Big Cities Health Coalition!

Drug and alcohol abuse in Baltimore is a very real issue.  Last year more people died from overdoses then murder in the Charm City.  Heroin is to blame for 143 of those lost lives. "Heroin literally affects every single part of our city,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.  “It's estimated that we have about 19,000 people in our city who are using heroin."

The Baltimore City Health Department launched a new social media campaign #BmoreHealthySelfie Tuesday…

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen will be holding the first community forum for the Heroin Treatment and Prevention Taskforce. This taskforce was convened last fall by Mayor Rawlings-Blake to address the critical problem of opioid addiction. Its goal was to study the problem of heroin addiction and propose solutions for improving access to effective treatment and neighborhood compatibility.  

Last January, Dr. Leana S. Wen took the reins from Dr. Oxiris Barbot as Baltimore City Health Commissioner.  Being responsible for the health of the entire city seems like a gargantuan charge, especially for someone barely 30. But given Wen’s accomplishments to date—she entered college at 13, studied public health and health policy as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, served on an advisory commission to Congress regarding graduate medical education, worked as an attending physician in a busy emergency room, gave four popular TED and TEDMed talks, wrote a critically-acclaimed book When Doctor’s Don’t Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests, to name a few—she’s probably up to the task.

Citing the potential dangers of powdered alcohol for both youth and adults, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen, M.D. has convened a coalition of public health and physician leaders in support of banning the substance in Maryland. “Our efforts need to be focused on making alcoholic products less, not more, available to young people across our state,” Dr Wen said. 

Today as part of National Youth Violence Prevention Week, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake and Health Commissioner Leana Wen, M.D. recognized the accomplishments of 12 city residents who are “changemakers” in the community by presenting them with a 2015 Baltimorphosis Changemaker award.  

Community input will be key as the city looks to expand its successful B’more for Healthy Babies initiative to kids and teenagers. This is being done to reduce racially disparate outcomes in health, says new Baltimore City Health Department Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.