The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63922

Donna Shelley, MD, MPH¹, Lisa Gaffin, MA¹, and Ian Lapp, PhD². (1) Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th St, New York, NY 10028, 212-305-0068, drs26@columbia.edu, (2) Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 701 West 168th Street, HHSC LL10D, New York, NY 10032

Very few courses dedicated to tobacco control exist in Schools of Pubic Health despite tobacco's impact on health and significant public health efforts to organize against it. Tobacco control represents a model for interdisciplinary study in public health by linking diverse areas including law, community mobilization, clinical practice, advertising , youth prevention, taxation, and regulatory policy. In response to the lack of tobacco-oriented courses, and in recognition of the need for innovative and interdisciplinary methods of addressing tobacco control, the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health developed the Tobacco Seminar Series: An Unfiltered View. The seminar is cosponsored by the state and local public health departments and therefore involves local/state public health workers and officials in an academic and practice partnership in order to foster research and advocacy in tobacco control. The seminar draws together leading experts from the political, economic, clinical and sociological fields to stimulate discussions and debates concentrating on cutting edge approaches to addressing the legacy and future of tobacco control in America. This course serves as a stepping stone to further study and training in the development, implementation and evaluation of science-based, multi-level interventions for tobacco control in partnership with priority population communities and state/local health departments. A co-sponsorship of the series with the New York State and New York City Departments of Health strengthens this partnership. This course develops a knowledge and skill base in its participants for addressing tobacco control issues and conceptualizing new models of research and practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key steps needed to developing a seminar series on tobacco control that brings together academics and practitioners.
• Develop a local model for a seminar series that disseminates cutting-edge knowledge on tobacco control and promotes the development of new research and practice in this area.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.