Recent News

"Baltimore mayor touts 'Safe Streets Zone' success" (WBAL-TV) June 2, 2015

Jun 3rd, 2015

Despite the continuing violence, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is celebrating crime reduction more than a year without a deadly shooting in a Safe Streets Zone. Rawlings-Blake called the success an important milestone for the city. The mayor said thanks to the Safe Streets team and the community for the hard work they've done in reducing violence. The last fatal shooting in Cherry Hill was April 22, 2014.

 

"Baltimore's Cherry Hill celebrates more than a year without a murder" (WMAR-TV)

Jun 3rd, 2015

It is a neighborhood those born and raised in say has a reputation they are always fighting to overcome. Now there is proof, they say, that fight is working. It has been more than 400 days since someone was killed in the streets of Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighborhood. 

"Health Department Announces OneBaltimore / Baltimore Corps Team To Lead Department’s Public Health Recovery Efforts"

Jun 2nd, 2015

The Baltimore City Health Department announces the selection of a team of fellows to lead the agency’s public health recovery efforts under Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s OneBaltimore initiative. 

"Evaluation Confirms Patient Seen At Hopkins Does Not Have Ebola"

Jun 1st, 2015

The Baltimore City Health Department reports that clinical evaluation and laboratory tests conducted at Johns Hopkins Hospital have ruled out a diagnosis of Ebola for the patient who was admitted yesterday with a chief complaint of fever and a recent travel history to West Africa. The patient is expected to be discharged from the hospital today and poses no risk to the general public.

"Baltimore City Health Department Confirms Patient Being Evaluated For Fever; No Danger To Public Suspected"

May 31st, 2015

The Baltimore City Health Department can confirm that a patient is undergoing evaluation at Johns Hopkins Hospital with a chief complaint of fever after recently returning from West Africa.  The patient is currently being treated in an isolation room. The initial evaluation is suggestive of a diagnosis other than Ebola infection but further tests are ongoing. “The testing is being done out of an abundance of caution,” said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner.  

"Mental health resources available to children traumatized by Baltimore riots" (WMAR-ABC2) May 27, 2015

May 28th, 2015

As video of fires and looting played out on televisions across the country, many kids were living it. "Trauma in general at the level that we saw in our city has caused more concern for mental health across the board. These are scars that will follow people throughout their lives and it’s important for us to address it now,” Baltimore City Health Commissioner Leana Wen said.

"In Baltimore's bloody May, Safe Streets keeps peace" (Baltimore Sun) May 27, 2015

May 28th, 2015

I'm looking at some numbers and speaking with James Timpson, who runs the Safe Streets violence prevention program in Park Heights, and I'm wondering: Why aren't these guys in every high-crime corner of the city? If the mayor and police commissioner want to make some "adjustments" to curtail the shootings and killings in Baltimore, why not expand Safe Streets — and now?

Hidden Treasures Within Baltimore City

May 28th, 2015

As the dust settles after some moments of unrest, we emerge with a greater sense of respect for those that continue to do amazing work for the city of Baltimore. Earlier this month, a group of emergency physicians / health policy fellows from George Washington University and the University of Maryland embarked on a journey to visit Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen and her staff.  While visiting we developed a deeper appreciation for the hard work and powerful initiatives that continue to take place in this great city.

Hidden Treasures Within Baltimore City

"Hopkins studies student vision, learning" (Baltimore Sun) May 27, 2015

May 27th, 2015

Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore's new health commissioner, said the department has made significant improvements. In the last academic school year, the department increased its vision screening rate to 96 percent. But challenges remain with follow-through, Wen said. Less than 20 percent of students who screen positive for vision deficiencies end up getting glasses, she said. That leaves the health department and the school system trying to reach parents.

"We can save lives now" (Baltimore Sun) May 23, 2015

May 25th, 2015

Heroin is not a new problem to Baltimore. Like many cities across the U.S., we have struggled with the heroin epidemic for years. Heroin ties into the very fabric of our city and cannot be separated from the problems of violence, mass incarceration and rampant health disparities. Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen writes an Op Ed for the Baltimore Sun.

Pages