Press Releases

Baltimore City Health Commissioner, Dr. Leana Wen Delivers 2016 Commencement Address at Notre Dame of Maryland University

May 22nd, 2016

Baltimore City Health Comisisoner Dr. Leana Wen today delivered the address at the 2016 Commencement of Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) at the Royal Farms Arena. NDMU President Marylou Yam presided over the ceremony.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Calls on Congress to Provide Additional Funding to Combat Zika Virus

May 19th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (May 19, 2016)–Today Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement following this week’s votes by Congress to approve funding to combat the Zika Virus:

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Commends U.S. District Court Decision to Uphold Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Warning Label Law

May 19th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (May 19, 2016)–Today Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued the following statement following this week’s decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to uphold the City of San Francisco’s proposed law to require warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages:

Baltimore City Health Department Launches New Restaurant Inspection Web Portal

May 17th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (May 17, 2016)– The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) today released a new inspection web portal that provides the public with easy access to recent food service facility inspection data online. This new public portal, available at http://baltimore.foodinspectionreports.com/, provides greater transparency into the inspection process and allows constituents to make better informed dining choices.

Baltimore City Announces Beginning of Code Red Season

May 16th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (May 16, 2016)– The Baltimore City Health Department today announced the start of Baltimore City’s Code Red program for the coming summer.

Code Red is a multi-agency effort to provide help provide cooling relief to vulnerable populations in Baltimore. Throughout the summer, City agencies provide public education to residents on the effects of sustained heat on health and perform outreach regarding energy assistance programs for senior residents and other susceptible groups through Community Action Partnership Centers.

Baltimore City Announces New Citywide Initiative to Provide Free Universal Vision Screening and Glasses to Students

May 10th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (May 10, 2016)– The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD), the Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), non-profit provider Vision To Learn (VTL), and Warby Parker today launched “Vision for Baltimore,” an innovative citywide strategy to ensure that students across Baltimore City elementary and middle schools have universal access to glasses.

Baltimore City Health Officials Urge Residents to Dispose of Unwanted Prescription Drugs at Baltimore City Police District Offices

Apr 29th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (April 29, 2016) –  On Saturday, April 30th, Baltimore City Health officials will recognize National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a nationwide initiative to highlight safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs in communities, while raising awareness about prescription drug abuse.

Late last year, Baltimore City introduced permanent prescription return boxes at all nine Baltimore Police District stations to allow individuals to safely and anonymously return any expired or unused medication, including prescription opioids, such as Percocet, OxyContin or Vicodin— with no questions asked.

Baltimore City Announces Citywide Preparedness Plan for Zika Virus

Apr 26th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (April 26, 2016) – Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today joined City leaders to announce Baltimore City’s Zika Preparedness Plan to educate the public about the Zika virus and coordinate a citywide response to help prevent the spread of the virus. Baltimore’s Citywide Zika Plan will be the first in Maryland, and aims to serve as a model for other cities.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Issues Statement Following Maine Governor’s Veto for Naloxone Expansion

Apr 21st, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (April, 21, 2016) – Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today issued the following statement in response to Maine Governor Paul LePage’s decision to veto L.D. 1547, a bill that would allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose:

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Highlights Health Programs as Catalyst for Social Change during W. Montague Cobb Lecture in Health Policy

Apr 20th, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 20, 2016) – Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today joined students, faculty, and community members at the Howard University College of Medicine for the fourth annual Dr. W. Montague Cobb Lectureship in Health Policy.

The lecture honors Dr. W. Montague Cobb, a 1929 graduate of the Howard University College of Medicine who was the first African American to earn a Ph.D in anthropology and a pioneering civil rights leader who championed the elimination of racial barriers to health care. During today’s lecture, Dr. Wen spoke about the vital role public health can play in combating systemic health disparities:

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