Working toward a healthy Baltimore

One year ago, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake gave me the incredible opportunity to serve our city's residents. As I assumed leadership of the Health Department, I wrote about the need to tackle underlying disparities in three critical areas with innovative, evidence-based approaches. Much has happened since then, including April's unrest that has given our work even more urgency. Under our mayor's leadership, and with the dedicated work of our staff and partners, we have improved outcomes as we strive for health equity for Baltimore's residents.

Read more at: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-wen-anniversary-2016...

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When I’ve asked experts about these approaches, it’s not that any of them are bad. It’s that they fall short. For instance, Leana Wen, the former health commissioner of Baltimore (and soon-to-be president of Planned Parenthood), said that the Support for Patients and Communities Act “is simply tinkering around the edges.”

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