Leana Wen: New city health commissioner to lead campaign against substance abuse

Yvonne Wenger
The Baltimore Sun

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has tapped a high-profile emergency room physician and former Rhodes scholar to be Baltimore's new health commissioner and guide the city in addressing the root causes of substance abuse.

The appointment of Dr. Leana S. Wen, a Chinese immigrant who entered college at age 13, will be announced Friday. She is expected to start Jan. 15, pending City Council confirmation.

"She has a lot of good energy and a strong desire for public service," Rawlings-Blake told The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. "She has a passion for public health, and I think she has the right experience to help move the health department forward."

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