'Behind the Blue': Observing ‘World No Tobacco Day’ With UK BREATHE Collaborative's Ellen Hahn
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 31, 2022) — On Tuesday, May 31st, the World Health Organization (WHO) will observe "World No Tobacco Day." The purpose of this yearly celebration is to provide information to the public regarding the dangers of tobacco use, as well as shine a light on the business practices of tobacco companies, what the WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people can do for themselves and their families to live a healthier, tobacco-free lifestyle.
Ellen Hahn, Ph.D., is a professor in the University of Kentucky Colleges of Nursing and Public Health and director of BREATHE (Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments), a multidisciplinary research, outreach, and practice collaborative of the College of Nursing and its partners. BREATHE’s vision is that all people will have access to clean air and live in healthy environments.
With more than 80 organizational community partners, BREATHE is a clearinghouse for information, research and analysis, and policy development, as well as community education and outreach related to smoke- and tobacco-free policies, tobacco health disparities, electronic smoking devices, tobacco prevention and treatment, and radon reduction. These programs include the Tobacco Policy Research Program, the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy (KCSP), and the Radon Policy Research Program.
Hahn also serves as director of UK-CARES (Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences). On this episode of "Behind the Blue," Hahn talks about the significance of World No Tobacco Day, the work of the BREATHE collaborative, how it’s never too late for communities and their members to go smoke-free, and more.
"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.
For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of "Behind the Blue" can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.
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.