This past week, I had the opportunity to travel to the Midwest to share lessons from Baltimore and to learn from my public health counterparts around the country. We often speak about the stark health disparities in Baltimore City as manifested by the 20-year difference in life expectancy between zip codes. The challenges we face are not unique, nor are our efforts to combat disparities. 

In Cleveland, I spoke at the City Club of Cleveland, which has hosted every sitting President since President Reagan. Joined by public health officials in Cleveland and in the state of Ohio, I discussed the successes of our Safe Streets program to prevent violence, our B’more for Healthy Babies (BHB) initiative to reduce infant mortality rates, and new partnerships that seek to break the cycle of trauma in Baltimore City.

I then traveled to Iowa, where I learned about rural health and the challenges faced in our heartland that mirror what we see in Baltimore, including the epidemic of opioid addiction and the lack of resources for addressing mental health. With public health leaders across Iowa, I participated in programs with Iowa Public Radio to discuss violence as a public health issue. As this year’s recipient of the Richard and Barbara Hansen Leadership Award, I was honored to give the named lecture at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health to discuss “Lessons from Baltimore: The Intersection of Public Health and Physician Activism.” There, I shared Baltimore's lessons and urged students and health professionals to speak up, take action now, and fight for health equity. 

Addressing our country’s most pressing health challenges is not easy. It’s been said that public health saved your life today—you just don’t know it. All of us working in public health have an obligation to bring health and social justice to the forefront every day. There is no more important time than now to be involved and stay involved.

Thank you for your hard work and leadership.

Sincerely,

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

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