In January of 2015, Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake appointed acclaimed author and Ted Talk speaker Leanna Wen as Baltimore City Health Commissioner. In her first year in office, Wen has made more of an impact than others have in years in her position. See below for a list of her accomplishments so far.

1. Healing Baltimore in the wake of the riots.

After 13 pharmacies were looted and closed due to the rioting in April, 2015, Wen developed a plan to ensure that Baltimore citizens were able to have their prescriptions filled. “Hundreds of people, if not thousands, are unable to get access to prescription medication,” said Wen on May 2nd, less than a week after the riots. Wen encouraged Baltimore residents to dial 311 if they were unable to get their medication. Once contacted, the Health Department set up prescription transfers to nearby pharmacies and would arrange deliveries or transportation.

Within two days of Baltimore residents alerting the Health Commissioner of their inability to attain needed supplies during the riots – such as food and toiletries— Wen established a Mental Health/Trauma Recovery Plan. This plan offered 24/7 crisis counseling in community groups across the city.  

2. Working on Baltimore’s biggest health problem.

In 2014, 303 Baltimore residents died of drug and alcohol overdoses. This number was a 19% increase from 2013 and was expected to rise unless a preventative plan was put into action. Wen administered such a plan, which focused on opioid overdose prevention and response. She has created extensive online resources for Baltimoreans to learn how to respond to an opioid overdose and has emphasized how important training “likely bystanders/first responders to respond effectively to opioid overdoses” is to decrease the number of deaths in the city.

3. Getting every Baltimorean healthy.

Since her appointment, Wen has recognized the necessity for communication in the city and developed multiple platforms for improved interaction throughout Baltimore. B’More Heard is an online platform where students are encouraged to post and discuss topics concerning their current and future lives in Baltimore. This forum provides a platform for specialized communication with a particular demographic of Baltimore, creating a place where they can express concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed.   

Leana Wen and her team have also launched blogs and organized health talks to further inspire Baltimore’s residents to live healthy lifestyles. With all the negativity in the Baltimore’s atmosphere, it’s good to know that the city’s leadership is taking strides to improve the well-being of its residents.  

Sources:

http://health.baltimorecity.gov/node/35

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-prescription-drugs-20150502-story.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566526/

http://health.baltimorecity.gov/opioid-overdose/baltimore-city-overdose-prevention-and-response-information

http://www.bhsbaltimore.org/policy-advocacy/overdose-prevention/