In The Spotlight

Matthew Bars, MS is the designer and co-director of the Tobacco Cessation Program of the New York City Fire Department. The program, enjoying a one-year success rate of over 50%, was a feature on the NBC Today Show for the Great American Smoke Out on Thursday, November 20, 2003.

Brenda Borelli, Brown University, will begin a position as Associate Editor of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (JCCP) in January 2004.

Pr Gerard Dubois, Professor of Public Health, University of Amiens, France, after 10 years chairing the National Committee against Smoking, is now chairing the French Alliance against Tobacco, made up of 29 organizations (e.g., French Cancer League, French Federation of Cardiology, National Committee against Respiratory Diseases, National Committee against Smoking, French Office against Tobacco, Right of Non-Smokers).

John Hughes received the Alton Ochsner Award Relating to Smoking and Health by the Ochsner Medical Foundation for his work in defining the tobacco withdrawal syndrome and in developing new treatments for smoking cessation. He received the award at the American College of Chest Physicians meeting.

Effective December 15, 2003, Dr. Scott Leischow became the Acting Associate Director of the Behavioral Research Program in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Leischow has been the Chief of the Tobacco Control Research Branch (TCRB) in the Behavioral Research Program since July 2000. As a testament to his leadership in that role, Dr. Leischow received an NIH Individual Merit Award for his leadership in tobacco control research at NIH in October 2003. Dr. Cathy Backinger received appointment to replace Dr. Leischow as the Acting Branch Chief for TCRB. Since 1998, Dr. Backinger has been a Health Scientist with TCRB and previously served as the Acting Chief, TCRB, from January 1999 to July 2000.

The Center for Tobacco Cessation has published the executive summary of its report: CTC Policy Roundtable on Statewide Cessation Services. LA Bailey, WI Furmanski, EW Edsall, Eds. From Challenges to Opportunities: Organizing, Financing, and Delivering Statewide Cessation Services and Activities. Washington, DC, December 2003. Copies available on their website at www.ctcinfo.org or single copy available by calling (202) 585-3200.

SRNT election results
We had four outstanding candidates for election this year. SRNT members have elected Ken Warner as President-Elect and Marina Picciotto as Member Delegate.

Congratulations to Ken and Marina – the Society will be well served by your leadership.

Both Ken and Marina begin their terms of office at the annual meeting (next month).