Washington D.C., Sep 13, 2018 / 10:00 am
Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore City Commissioner of Health, is the new president of Planned Parenthood. The abortion provider announced Wen's appointment on Sept. 12. She replaces Cecile Richards, who was appointed to the role in 2006.
In a three-minute video posted by Planned Parenthood announcing her hiring, Wen described her immigrant background--she moved to the United States from China at the age of eight--and her past work as an emergency room doctor and as the health commissioner of Baltimore.
"Reproductive health care is health care. Women's health care is health care, and health care has to be understood as a fundamental human right," said Wen in the video.
"Having a physician as the head of Planned Parenthood--it is a sign that what we are doing is mainstream medical care."