‘Reclaiming the Future’: Kentuckians convene for 2026 Tobacco Control Conference
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2026) — Public health leaders, researchers and educators from across the state gathered in Lexington April 16 for the 2026 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference, an annual event focused on advancing strategies to prevent tobacco use and improve access to treatment services in Kentucky.
Hosted by 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 and Cessation Program, the conference highlighted emerging trends in tobacco use, innovative treatment approaches and the power of personal storytelling.
Brian King, Ph.D., was the featured keynote speaker. King, executive vice president for U.S. programs at the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and former director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, discussed the evolving tobacco product landscape and the need for coordinated policy, research and prevention strategies to reduce tobacco use and protect public health.
“Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death in Kentucky, costing our state $2.23 billion in annual health care expenditures. Prioritizing comprehensive tobacco control efforts is critical to improving the health of our communities,” said Amanda Bucher, KCSP program director in the UK College of Nursing. “This conference brings together partners to share strategies, elevate community voices and accelerate progress toward a healthier, tobacco-free future.”
The conference also featured the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy Awards Ceremony, which recognizes individuals and organizations demonstrating leadership in tobacco control across the state.
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The city of Ludlow 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 a comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinance.
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Boyd County High School sophomore, Delanie Crump received the Smoke-Free Youth Advocate of the Year Award for excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and policy advocacy.
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Graham Warren, M.D., director of the Tobacco, Research, Universal Screening and Treatment initiative at the UK Markey Cancer Center, received the Timothy W. Mullett, M.D., Lung Cancer Prevention Award, for leadership in advancing tobacco control policy to prevent lung cancer.
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Casey Baker-Romans, substance use prevention health educator with the Northern Kentucky Health Department received the David B. Stevens, M.D., Smoke-free Advocate of the Year Award.
Sponsors of the conference included Kentucky Health Collaborative, WellCare, Kentucky Lung Cancer Screening Program, Kentucky Asthma Management Program, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, United Healthcare, Kentucky Voices for Health, Kentucky Primary Care Association and Appalachian Regional Healthcare.
By bringing together public health leaders, researchers and advocates, the 2026 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference highlighted how data-driven policy and community partnerships reinforce Kentucky’s ongoing commitment to reducing tobacco use and protecting the health of current and future generations.
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 healthcare. 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 $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.