Dr. Leana Wen: Better care is not our biggest health challenge

Dr. Leana Wen at TedMed 2014 presenting "What your doctor won’t disclose."

In a Seattle Times op-ed, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana S. Wen calls on the city to tackle poverty, violence, and racism to improve health

Next Monday, emergency physician and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana S. Wen will be in Seattle to deliver the Group Health's annual Hilde and Bill Birnbaum Endowed Lecture. Dr. Wen offers a preview of her points in a commentary in the Seattle Times. She gives her perspective on last year’s civil unrest in Baltimore and explains how her city is addressing common public health problems such as addiction, lack of mental health services, and high infant mortality.

Dr. Wen discusses how better health care isn’t the best way to improve health. She makes the case that our health and life expectancy depend much more on where and how we live, work, and play. She describes new approaches that Baltimore has taken, and gives suggestions for Seattle and King County to lessen our disparities in health and longevity.

The public is invited to Dr. Wen’s talk, “A shared vision: New perspectives on strengthening social determinants of health,” on Monday, June 27, from 7:15 to 9:00 a.m. at the Seattle Sheraton. Please RSVP here.