Cincinnati, together we can change this story by Lee Ann Liska

I’m so excited that Cincinnati and its hospitals and health systems are coming together to tackle one of our community’s most pressing problems – our high infant mortality rate. To see so many health care providers and community leaders who are galvanized and unified in purpose, and who are rolling up their sleeves to do the hard work necessary to lower the infant mortality rate in Cincinnati is truly inspiring! We have so many talented minds that are profoundly committed to ushering in a new era in our community, one that will offer our youngest community members a more promising future. The whole world should know that the torch dedicated to healthy babies burns brightly in Cincinnati!This will be no easy undertaking, but the creativity, experience, imagination, persistence and sheer determination exist unlike ever before to make this happen. However, we can only succeed if the entire community rallies around this issue! Our work cannot begin and end in the halls of our hospitals or clinics or in the meeting rooms where new ideas will germinate. Everyone in Cincinnati  – including all of you who are reading this –  must engage and take a stand, one that clearly states that beginning today, Cincinnati will create an environment where babies will flourish and prosper so that they will live long, healthy lives filled with love, hope, dreams, aspirations, family and friends. Our goal is to ensure every baby in this community realizes the chance to run barefooted in the rain; make pillow forts or mud pies with friends and to wrestle with a dog. This is our commitment – our covenant – to Cincinnati and to the babies we’ve already lost. Join our efforts today and take a stand with us.Lee Ann Liska is President & CEO of UC Medical Center & Senior Vice President of UC Health.