KCSP Conference recognizes policymakers, advocates for leadership in creating smoke-free communities
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 26, 2024) — The University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy (KCSP) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Program (KTPC) celebrated tobacco-free successes statewide and discussed how to reduce tobacco control disparities using evidence-based policy solutions at the 2024 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges. The conference took place on April 23-24 at Embassy Suites in Lexington. The conference featured an awards ceremony to honor advocates and city officials who are leading the way to enact smoke- and tobacco-free policies that advance healthy environments for Kentuckians.
The conference brought together health advocates from across the Commonwealth and hosted local and national speakers on health equity, tobacco disparities, community engagement and policy solutions.
Conference speakers included:
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Ebony Jackson Griffin, associate director for health equity in the Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Meredith Cahill, epidemiologist, REACH Evaluation
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Emily Donovan, research manager, TRUTH Initiative
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Dr. Amanda Fallin-Bennett, associate professor, UK College of Nursing
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Holly Hudnall, director of community engagement & education, Kentucky Voices for Health
“While tobacco use has decreased across the general population, disparities persist by geographic location, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and mental health status,” said Amanda Bucher, director of tobacco policy research and outreach in the College of Nursing at UK. “This is in part due to the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing of these populations. Our vision for a tobacco-free Kentucky must promote health equity and eliminate these disparities.”
The following awards were presented:
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The cities of Corinth and Highland Heights received the Everette Varney Smoke-free Indoor Air Excellence Award for their exceptional leadership and collaborative efforts in promoting the health of their citizens by enacting comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinances.
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Timothy W. Mullett, M.D., UK Markey Cancer Center Network, received the Lee T. Todd, Jr., Smoke-free Hero Award for his courage, leadership, perseverance, and continuous commitment to smoke- and tobacco-free environments in the face of adversity.
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Sydney Shaffer, of Scott County, received the Smoke-free Youth Advocate Award for excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and smoke-free policy. Shaffer has advocated for lung health policies and youth vaping prevention since losing her grandfather to lung cancer. She has spoken to policymakers about the importance of tobacco control policies at a local, state and national level.
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Centre College received the Tobacco Free Campus Award for their exceptional leadership and collaborative efforts in promoting healthy campus environments by implementing a 100% tobacco-free campus policy.
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Jelaine Harlow, Lake Cumberland District Health Department, received the Ellen J. Hahn Lifetime Achievement in Tobacco Control Award for an exceptional life devoted to leadership in advocacy and public service contributions in tobacco control.
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Jessica L. Burris, Ph.D., UK Department of Psychology and Markey Cancer Center received the Timothy W. Mullett, MD, Lung Cancer Prevention Award for her leadership, devotion, and passion toward preventing lung cancer through policy change in tobacco control.
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Michael Gieske, M.D., St. Elizabeth Healthcare, received the David B. Stevens, MD, Smoke-free Advocate of the Year Award for excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and smoke free policy.
Sponsors for the 2024 KY Tobacco Control Conference include UK Healthcare, Kentucky Health Collaborative, Kentucky Asthma Management Program, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Kentucky COPD Program, CHI Saint Joseph Health and Kentucky Voices for Health.
As part of the University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s BREATHE team, KCSP promotes healthy environments and lung health to achieve health equity through research, community outreach, advocacy and policy development (@kysmokefree). Click here for a map and list of smoke-free ordinances in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is responsible for developing and operating state public health programs and activities for the citizens of Kentucky. DPH’s mission is to improve the health and safety of people in Kentucky through prevention, promotion, and protection.
The Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (KTPC) in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services aims to reduce preventable and premature deaths attributed to tobacco use by implementing programs to decrease tobacco use and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. This includes local and statewide programs encouraging youth not to use tobacco products and helping those who want to quit in doing so (@KyTobaccoFree).
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.