Note From The Commissioner:
Dear Community Partner,
Last Saturday,
I had the honor of participating in the 2018 Women of the World (WOW) Festival
held at Notre Dame of Maryland University. I shared my personal and
professional journey with some incredible trailblazing women, including Major
General Linda Singh, the first African-American and first woman to become
Adjutant General of Maryland.
I was
especially honored to meet Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement,
whose personal story and heroic resilience has been so moving to witness. Ms.
Burke spoke about the intersection of race, gender, and class in her experience
as a survivor of sexual violence and as an advocate for women and girls.
Early on in my
life, I saw how a cultural confluence of gender discrimination and sexual
violence could set a hardworking woman back. It was apparent in my own mother’s
life.
When I was a
child, my family emigrated from China to the United States with only $40 to our
name. My mother took a job as a cashier at a video rental store to help make
ends meet. I was young at the time, but I remember her coming home and crying
and crying. I didn’t understand until much later that her boss was assaulting
her—verbally and physically. I reflect now on the shame, fear, and indignity
that she must have felt. We were in a tenuous financial situation and had
uncertain immigration status. My mother felt powerless to speak up and to stop
the abuse: if she did, what would be the consequences?
There is a
tendency to blame the “system” for the inequities and power dynamics that
result in discrimination and abuse. But we must ask ourselves: who is the
system? If it’s about all of us, then we all must take collective
responsibility for the injustices that have come before us. The onus must be on
all of us, but in particular on those of us in positions of power, to correct
that indignity, that harassment, that unacceptable behavior.
Now that I am
in a position of authority myself, I feel a particular responsibility to
promote, support, and mentor other women. At the Baltimore City Health
Department, I am proud that my Chief of Staff and all three of my Deputies are
women. Together, we set the tone that inappropriate, discriminatory behavior
can never be tolerated; allegations are immediately investigated and action
taken with the full force of the law. We must work hard every day to foster a
culture of equity, diversity, and respect.
My mother
passed away eight years ago. If she could see the work that we do at the Health
Department, I hope that she would have been proud of what we are doing to fight
for children, women, and families. (I think that she would have been
particularly happy to see my 8-month old son, Eli, join me at City Council this
week, to support the “Diaper Duty” bill!) In her honor, and in tribute to the
many courageous women who have come before us, let us heed the words of my
mentor and friend, Nicholas Kristof, who came to visit Baltimore this week:
“In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was
slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism.
We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the
struggle for gender equality around the world.”
That struggle
belongs to all of us.
Leana Wen,
M.D., M.Sc.
Mayor Pugh and Dr. Wen Announce Initiative
with Hospitals to Improve Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
On Monday, Mayor
Catherine E. Pugh and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen were
joined by the leadership of all 11 Baltimore City hospitals to announce a new
initiative focused on implementing and
recognizing best practices within the City’s hospitals for responding to the
opioid epidemic.
“Among Baltimore's
greatest assets is Baltimore’s unparalleled hospital system which, arguably, is
the finest in the world," said Mayor Catherine E. Pugh. "I am calling
on the leaders and medical professionals of our hospitals to join us in
fighting the opioid crisis which continues to claim far too many lives not only
in our community, but across our nation. This is a national health crisis and
it needs to be treated with the advanced medical resources that we know can be
effective and which for sure will save lives."
“Hospitals alone
cannot end this epidemic, but it cannot be ended without them,” said Dr. Leana
Wen. “Addiction is a disease and treatment exists. Together, we will build upon
the work that’s already been done and make Baltimore City a national model for
treating addiction alongside every other disease. That means treating addiction
in our traditional health care institutions, including hospitals.”
The Health
Department has opened the project for public
comment through May 31, 2018.
Click here to watch the full press conference and here to read a Baltimore
Sun op-ed co-authored by Mayor Pugh and Dr. Wen. Read further coverage of
the event in the Baltimore
Sun, U.S.
News and World Report, WBAL, WBAL
Radio, WEAA, WBFF, WJZ, Baltimore
Fishbowl, and Fierce
Healthcare.
Dr. Wen Gives Keynote Address at AARP Leadership
Day
By invitation
of Hank Greenberg, AARP Maryland State Director, Dr. Wen provided the keynote
address for AARP State and Community Engagement Leadership Day last week. Dr.
Wen was joined by AARP directors from all 50 states; she commended them all for
their dedication to serving and promoting the well-being of older adults and
their families.
"It is an
honor to speak with AARP leaders, and I applaud you for the work you’re doing
in cities, counties, states, and regions across the country,” said Dr. Wen.
"Public health is one powerful tool to level the playing field of
inequality. Collective impact work – collaborating across government agencies,
the non-profit sector, and private enterprise – takes time, but it works. It is
a privilege to share the work of the Baltimore City Health Department with
AARP, a key partner in leveling the playing field for our older adults."
Click here to read an article co-written by Dr. Wen and Mr. Greenberg
earlier this year on the importance of prescription drug affordability.
Dr. Wen Voices Support for Baltimore City
“Diaper Duty” Legislation
On Monday, Dr.
Wen voiced her support for the introduction of Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer’
s ”Diaper Duty” bill. Council President Bernard C. 'Jack' Young and Councilmembers Bill
Henry, Eric Costello, Brandon Scott, Kristerfer Burnett, Ryan Dorsey, Shannon
Sneed, Robert Stokes, Sr., Sharon Green Middleton, Edward Reisinger, John
Bullock, Zeke Cohen, Leon Pinkett, III, and Mary Pat Clarke have all signed on
as cosponsors for the bill. The legislation will require every restroom in the
City, regardless of gender, to have a diaper changing station. Dr. Wen spoke
about her own difficulties finding spaces to change her eight-month-old son Eli,
who joined (and spoke at) the press event in City Hall.
Read more about
the announcement in the Baltimore Sun and WMAR-TV.
Dr. Wen Speaks on “Trailblazing Women of
Baltimore” Panel at WOW Festival
Last Saturday,
Dr. Wen spoke on the “Trailblazing Women of Baltimore” panel at the Women of
the World (WOW) Festival alongside Major General Linda Singh, Sheela Murthy,
Deb Tillett, Jamie McDonald, and Quinn Kelley. While at WOW Fest, Dr. Wen also
met Tarana Burke (pictured above with Dr. Wen), founder of the #MeToo movement. In her remarks, Dr. Wen
discussed the role of female leaders in supporting, promoting, and mentoring
other women. She also discussed how she fosters a culture of equity, diversity,
and respect at the Health Department by having a zero tolerance policy for
inappropriate or discriminatory behavior.
"The Women
of the World (WOW) Festival is an incredible event, bringing together some of
the most inspiring women from Baltimore and across the United States to speak
and to engage in fellowship with one another,” said Dr. Wen. “As leaders in our
organizations, we have to set the tone in our workplaces and establish these as
spaces of equity, inclusion, and respect. We must promote other women and
mentor them, while also being vulnerable enough to share with them the
challenges we face. I enjoyed sharing my journey as a woman and a leader with
fellow attendees."
To learn more about Dr. Wen’s personal and professional trajectory, read her interview in the Baltimore Fishbowl.
Dr. Wen Speaks at Health Datapalooza
Last Friday, Dr. Wen addressed more than 1,000 attendees at Health Datapalooza, a conference featuring remarks by U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Administrator Seema Verma, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner
Scott Gottlieb. Dr. Wen spoke on the “All Health Data is Local” panel about the
role of data in informing policymaking and program development. Dr. Wen noted
that while data should be used to define the problem to be addressed, public
health leaders working on the frontlines should not wait for “ideal” or
“perfect” data before they confront an urgent public health issue. She also
emphasized the importance of engaging with the community as well as public and
private sector stakeholders in a spirit of true collaboration, not as a
procedural “checkbox” to check-off.
"I am
proud to lead the Baltimore City Health Department as a city agency that
functions like a start-up,” said Dr. Wen. "We use innovative, evidence-based
programs and convene public-private partnerships for collective impact. I enjoyed
sharing at Health Datapalooza the ways in which the Baltimore City Health
Department incorporates data and community input to respond to some of the
biggest health challenges facing our City."
To learn more
about Dr. Wen’s panel at Health Datapalooza, see this article from U.S. News
and World Report here.
Dr. Wen Gives Keynote Address at NIH
Postbaccalaureate Poster Day
On Wednesday,
Dr. Wen gave the keynote address at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Postbaccaulaureate Poster Day, an event featuring the research work of recent
graduates involved in NIH’s postbac program. Dr. Wen congratulated the postbac
students for their completion of the program, and wished them luck on their
next steps, including medical school, PhD programs, and public health programs,
among other graduate school paths.
"I
congratulate the young scientists participating in the National Institutes of
Health's Postbaccalaureate Poster Day," said Dr. Wen. "I enjoyed
sharing my personal and professional journey with the postbac students at
NIH and learning about their aspirations. I commend NIH for their
commitment to nurturing the next generation of doctors, public health
professionals, epidemiologists, and research scientists, and am grateful to
have joined them in celebrating their achievements."
Dr. Wen Serves as Honorary Co-Chair of CASA
Baltimore’s “Art of Caring” Event
Last Sunday, Dr.
Wen served as Honorary Co-Chair of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of
Baltimore’s “Art of Caring” Annual Event and Silent Auction, by invitation of
Executive Director Nancy Blackwell. She was joined by fellow co-chair, John
Brothers, President of T. Rowe Price Foundation. Dr. Wen applauded the work
that CASA and its volunteers do for some of the most vulnerable children in
Baltimore City. The CASA event was a family affair, and Dr. Wen attended with
her husband, Sebastian Walker, and their son, Eli.
“I was thrilled
to serve as an honorary co-chair of the Art of Caring, an annual event
supporting the life-changing work of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA),”
said Dr. Wen. “CASA volunteers provide invaluable mentorship and companionship
to children across Baltimore. They do so much to ensure that the children with
whom they work have their health and educational needs met every day.”
HIV Outreach Team Receive Awards at Statewide
Outreach/Sexual Health Conference
Last Thursday
and Friday, the Health Department’s HIV/STD Prevention Program co-sponsored The
3rd Annual Maryland Statewide Outreach/Sexual Health Conference with
Sisters Together and Reaching (STAR), STD/HIV Prevention Training Center (PTC)
at Johns Hopkins, and Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).
Approximately 200 outreach workers, community navigators, and peer educators
gathered for skill building, networking, and continuing education.
At the
conference, three local outreach workers were presented with the first annual
Phyllis Burnett Outreach Award. Awardees include: Charmaine Stern-Megginson,
LIGHT Health & Wellness; Michael D. Graves, Park West Health System’s
Hidden Garden Program; and Anne Sageng, Planned Parenthood of Maryland. The Health
Department’s Nathan Fields and Tanya Myers were also honored for their HIV
outreach efforts at the event.
As the Assistant Program Manager of the Health
Department’s HIV/STD Prevention Program, Phyllis Burnett founded the HIV/STD
outreach program.
Awardees demonstrated
Ms. Burnett’s commitment to outreach through activism, resourcefulness, passion
for clients, and collaboration with other organizations.
Pictured above,
outreach workers: Nathan Fields, Michael D. Graves, Charmaine Stern-Megginson,
Anne Sageng, and Tanya Myers.
To learn more
about the Health Department’s HIV/STD Outreach work, click here.
Aging and CARE Services’ Chief of Community
Services Speaks at Court in the Community
Last
Monday, the Health Department’s Division of Aging and CARE Services’ Chief of
Community Services Natasha Ramberg spoke at Court in the Community. The event,
sponsored by State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, is an opportunity to bring members
of the community together to discuss issues related to crime and justice. The
event’s theme was "Protecting Our Seniors" and focused on economic crimes
against older residents. It introduced attendees to resources in their communities
where they can seek support.
To
learn more about the Health Department’s Division of Aging and Care Services,
click here.
Health Department Staff Participate in Mayor’s
Neighborhood Clean-up Day
Last Saturday,
several members of the Health Department took part in Mayor Pugh’s Spring
Cleanup across the City. In the Penn North neighborhood, Director of Public
Health Campaigns John Comer (pictured above), Director of Legislative Affairs D’Paul
Nibber, and intern Demba Camarah spent several hours removing litter and debris
from parks, sidewalks, and streets, alongside Councilman Leon Pinkett and a
number of community members. Chief of Staff Kristin Rzeczkowski also assisted
fellow residents in cleaning up a sizeable portion of the City’s Locust Point
neighborhood.
Senior Medical
Advisor Presents at 4th Annual Ambulatory Trends Conference
Last Thursday,
Dr. Shelly Choo, the Health Department’s Senior Medical Advisor, presented at
the 4th Annual Ambulatory Trends Conference: Facing Health Care Challenges: Baltimore, University of Maryland
Medical Center, and You. She discussed the history of the Health Department,
as well as current initiatives to create an equitable and just Baltimore. She
also shared the Health Department’s three-pillar approach to combating the
opioid epidemic, and highlighted the importance of careful language choice in
reducing the stigma surrounding addiction.
To learn more
about the Health Department’s opioid overdose prevention and treatment work,
click here.
Medical Director of Tuberculosis Program Honored
at the Maryland Department of Health’s Center for Tuberculosis Control and
Prevention 2018 Annual Update
Dr.
Maunank Shah, Medical Director of the Health Department’s Tuberculosis Program,
was honored at the Maryland Department of Health’s Center for Tuberculosis
Control and Prevention 2018 Annual Update on April 25th. He received
the Dr. David Glasser Memorial Tuberculosis Control and Prevention Award, which
is given to individuals for their distinguished contribution to the prevention
and control of TB in Maryland.
Photo: TB Team
(left to right) Karla Alwood, nurse practitioner; Joyce Wanjiku, Sioabin
Fisher, nurse case managers; Maunank Shah, Medical Director (awardee); and Anna
Schauer, program coordinator. Not depicted from the TB Team is public health
investigator Linda Ellison.
To learn more
about the Health Department’s TB services click here.
Senior Medical
Advisor and Director of the Community Asthma Program Participate in Panel
Discussion on Asthma Education, Outreach, and Partnerships
On Wednesday,
Senior Medical Advisor Dr. Shelly Choo provided remarks for the Maryland Asthma
Summit hosted by the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative. She discussed how the social
determinants of health and health inequities play a role in the prevalence of asthma. Director
of the Community Asthma Program, Margret Schnitzer, participated in a panel discussion
on Asthma Education, Outreach, and Partnerships. She was joined by Dr.
Clifford Mitchell, Director of the Environmental Health Bureau (Maryland
Department of Health), Jessica Dayal and Susan Muchemi (Frederick County Health
Department), and Julie Losh and Lorene Norton (Saint Mary’s County Health
Department).
Click here to learn more about the Health Department’s efforts to
help residents with asthma.
Health Department Celebrates Take Your Child to
Work Day
Last Friday,
the Health Department hosted 10 young people in honor of Take Your Child to
Work Day. Students participated in ice breaker games and “getting to know
you” exercises. Health Department experts organized learning stations,
including a tobacco exercise where participants had a chance to feel two sets
of lungs – one healthy and one with lung cancer; discussions on bullying and
wellness, discussions on the environmental health benefits of food inspections;
information on the Health Department’s noise reduction efforts; and instructions
on how to safely dispose of hazardous chemicals. Nurses from the Bureau of
School Health also took the children’s height and weight.
Older American’s Month Activities
May is Older
American’s Month, and this year’s theme is “Engage at Every Age,” emphasizing
that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can
enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Older American’s Month also
celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our
communities.
The Division of
Aging and CARE Services is hosting a number of events to recognize Older
American’s Month:
- May
4, 2018: Intergenerational Prom, 7:00 to
10:00pm at Zeta Center
- May
9, 2018: Waxter Wisdom, 10:00 am to
12:00 pm at Waxter Center
- May
10, 2018: Mother’s Day Escape, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Zeta Center
- May
10, 2018: Maryland Centenarian Celebration, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Martin’s
West
- May
16, 2018: Senior Nutrition and Wellness Expo, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm at Waxter
Center
- May
23, 2018: Family Caregivers Conference, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Morgan State
- May
30, 2018: National Senior Fitness Day, 10:00 am to 12:00pm at Patterson Park
(in partnership with the Dept. of Rec and Parks)
To attend or
participate as a vendor, please call contact Jose.Jimenez@baltimorecity.gov or
call the Community Services Office at (410) 396-1337. Click here to download the event flyer.
Health Department Offers
Naloxone Trainings at Enoch Pratt Free Libraries
Learn how to save a life from an opioid
overdose. Health Department staff will conduct naloxone trainings at various
Enoch Pratt Free Libraries. Registration is not required.
Monday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Light Street Branch, 1251 Light Street, 21230
Monday, June 18 at 6:00 p.m.
Patterson Park Branch, 158 N. Linwood Avenue,
21224
Wednesday, June 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Orleans Street, 1303 Orleans Street, 21231
Tuesday, July 17 at 1:00 p.m.
Reisterstown Branch, 6310 Reisterstown Road,
21215
Thursday, July 19 at 1:00 p.m.
Forest Park Branch, 3023 Garrison Blvd., 21216
Thursday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m.
Northwood Branch, 4420 Loch Raven Blvd.,
21218
Friday, August 3 at 10 a.m.
Hamilton Branch, 5910 Harford Rd., 21214
To learn more, visit www.dontdie.org.
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