MHHD Director's Corner
Greetings,
The March is on! Thanks to all of you who planned and executed activities during February, in celebration of Black History Month. History is about our collective and shared experiences as individuals, as a people, a state, and a nation.
For those versed in literature, we could borrow from William Shakespeare, "The ides of March are come."
In terms of health and health care, MHHD will continue to celebrate wellness while we face the Opioid crisis, infant and maternal mortality, violence, chronic non-communicable diseases and communicable diseases, substance abuse, and mental health issues. We will continue to frame policy, conduct research, promote programs, form collaboratives, remove silos and replace them with integrated actions while continuing to focus on upstream and
downstream,
on social determinants of health, embrace a "health in all policy" approach, and seek resources.
Join us and spring into health for all. The March is on!
MHHD Director, Noel Brathwaite, PhD, MSPH
Dr. Brathwaite Across the State - Conversations With Local Health Departments
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Dr. Brathwait meeting with Health Officer Branch and Baltimore County Health Department Staff
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A goal of MHHD's new Director, Dr. Brathwaite, is to visit all of Maryland's local health departments within his first six months. The purpose of the visits is to listen to the experiences of health officers and staff.
Thus far, conversations have been had with leaders in Carroll, Harford, Baltimore, Wicomico, Frederick, Allegany, Calvert, Prince George's, and Worcester counties.
Health leaders spoke of: wellness, chronic diseases, opioid and other substance abuse, disparities, diversity and equity, resources and challenges, collaboration and partnerships, creativity and innovation,and of pride in their chosen professions. And all shared one thing in common- a commitment to serve diverse populations by promoting health and reducing illness and death.
Dr. Brathwaite reflects, "A look at the map indicates a nine-county arch stretching from West to North to South and deep in the Eastern Shore. I have seen a varied population; traversed a landscape of plains, hills unlike the mountains of Southern California and valleys; have driven over bridges, rivers, and streams; have admired vast stretches of beautiful farmlands and forested areas; looked in awe regarding the architecture of our small and large metropolitan areas. Maryland is indeed a beautiful state."
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Looking Forward - April is Minority Health Month
Visit the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health website to begin to prepare for April's National Minority Health Month events. Download resources, graphics, and list your month's events on their calendar of events.
Look for a full newsletter with resources, events, and other materials celebrating National Minority Health Month to be released in early April.
Save-the-date and Join MHHD for the Following April Events.
* Please note: Registration is required for participation in the below events.
| Chronic Disease Prevention Webinar in collaboration with the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control |
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2018
Time: 2 to 3 p.m.
Location: Webinar |
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| Building Sustainable Partnerships to Increase Access to Care Panel Discussion |
Date: Friday, April 13, 2018
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Location: 300 West Preston Street (Auditorium), Baltimore, MD 21201
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| Health Equity Summit hosted by MHHD & University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
Date: Friday, April 20, 2018
Time: 10 to 2:30 p.m.
Location: University of Maryland Eastern Shore |
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March is National Women's History Month
Women Who Have Re-Shaped History
Venus Williams - With seven Grand Slam titles, five Wimbledon singles championships, four Olympic gold medals, a clothing line, and an interior design company, Venus Williams is a force to be reckoned with. One of our favorite moments? After years of battling with officials for gender-equal prize money, she became the first woman at Wimbledon to earn the exact same as the male victor in the 2007 championship, arguably making the most progress in this area since Billie Jean King in the '70's. Williams has dedicated much of her time to the United Nations Organization for Education, Science, and Culture (UNESCO), promoting gender equality for women around the world (shape.com).
Michelle Obama - On a mission to change the way kids think about food and nutrition, Michelle Obama planted a vegetable garden at the White House in 2009 to strike up conversation about health and well-being. That conversation turned into the Let's Move! initiative in 2010. Through Let's Move! Obama is dedicated to solving childhood obesity and making it easier for kids to pursue their dreams. Her program brings healthier foods into schools, helps kids become more physically active, and makes sure families have access to healthy food that's also affordable (shape.com).
Charlotte Ellertson - A fearless leader with bold ideas, Charlotte Ellertson was heavily involved in making the morning after pill and abortion more readily available to women around the world. Ellertson founded Ibis Reproductive Health in 2002, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving women's reproductive choices and providing increased access to safe abortion, contraceptive access, and sexual health services (shape.com).
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