CHICAGO, IL. (November 4, 2015)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen today spoke before 12,000 public health professionals at the closing general session of the 2015 American Public Health Association (APHA)’s Annual Meeting and Exposition. As part of a panel discussion with APHA Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin and Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Dr. Wen spoke to the unique capability that public health leaders have to actively combat health disparities in their communities.

“As public health leaders, we have to be the strong voices, the willing listeners, and advocates for health, that our communities deserve,” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “That means meeting people where they are, and treating each person because their life matters. I am proud to stand before my fellow public health leaders around the country to share the innovative work that Baltimore is doing to work towards healthy communities as we aim to eliminate disparities and pursue justice.”

Founded in 1872, APHA is the nation’s leading public health organization that works to advance reduce health disparities, promote wellness, and provide a science-based voice in policy debates. The APHA publishes the American Journal of Public Health, which recently featured Dr. Wen and her Health Department colleagues.to describe their public health recovery efforts in the wake of April’s unrest.

This year’s national conference brought over 12,000 professionals from all fields of public health, to discuss the theme: Health in All Policies. Other speakers throughout the conference included:

• U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy,
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro
• Acting Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS Dr. Karen DeSalvo
• President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Dr. Freeman Hrabowski
• Environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr.