Earlier this week, Mayor Pugh reassured our residents that Baltimore is and will remain a welcoming city for immigrants. I want to both thank and stand with her in supporting our residents.

For me and for countless families across our city and country, the recent actions at the federal level are deeply personal. My family immigrated to this country as refugees when I was eight years old. We fled persecution and were granted the opportunity for a better life. From the neighbors who embraced us to the friends and colleagues who I’ve been blessed to know, I have witnessed the generosity of spirit and that, I believe, defines the American experience. This is the same spirit of caring and community that we embody in our work in public health.

I am proud to be American. I am proud to contribute to our society and serve the residents of Baltimore. I am proud to join other first generation Americans at the Health Department, across our city, and throughout the country who contribute to the vitality of our communities and the well-being of our nation.

I think of the students, engineers, and scientists who look to our country to improve their skills and contribute their experiences. I think of the families escaping terrorism, trauma, and certain death who look to seek refuge on our shores. I think of the immigrants in our city who now face uncertain futures. The America I love is the country of hope and opportunity. It is our duty to shelter and protect our immigrants.

This week, I also think about those in our city who are suffering from the disease of addiction. We celebrated a milestone: since January 2015, our city has trained over 20,000 residents to save a life with naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote medication. With these trainings, over 800 people have been saved—not by paramedics or doctors, but by neighbors saving neighbors. Unfortunately, persistent stigma remains, and we must continue to call out what science tells us is the truth: addiction is a disease. It does not discriminate. Treatment exists. Recovery is possible.

Physician and humanist Albert Schweitzer said, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” We must never forget that health and human rights are inextricably linked. We serve and protect our most vulnerable, which includes those who have chosen America as their new home and those who face stigma and persecution. Each and every person is a part of our community. This is our mission at BCHD, and we ask that you join us in this mission, today and every day.

Sincerely,

Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc.