BTCD Welcomes a New Epidemiologist

I’m excited to announce that Ms. Allison Pafume has accepted our offer to serve as Epidemiologist II with the Bureau of Tobacco & Chronic Disease.  Allison will begin working with us on Monday, March 15^th.

In her role as Cancer Epidemiologist –  Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, Allison will be responsible for designing and conducting epidemiological studies and maintaining data surveillance related to cancer and other chronic diseases; identifying population-based disease burden and risk factor trends and characteristics; preparing analytical reports and recommendations for the prevention and control of cancer and other chronic diseases; and, providing technical assistance to internal and external customers, including the Arizona Cancer Coalition.  Under the supervision and direction of Gowri Shetty, BTCD Director of Research & Evaluation, Allison will work collaboratively with Kendra Sobol, contracted evaluators, and community partners, and represent our bureau on evaluation and health surveillance-related committees.

Please join me in welcoming Allison, a graduate of the University of Arizona.

Wayne Tormala, BTCD Chief

Wayne Tormala & Stephen Michael to speak at U of A

As part of the Biobehavioral Oncology Seminar Series, the Arizona Cancer Center is pleased to announce that Bureau Chief Wayne Tormala and ASHLine Director Stephen Michael will be speaking at the University of Arizona on March 3rd, 9:00am at the Kiewit Auditorium. 

Listen to Wayne Tormala’s KXXT Interview

Wayne Tormala, along with TRUST Commission Chair Bill Pfeifer, appeared on the Men’s Health Talk with host Fred Taylor of Southwest Prostate February 18, 2010. Follow the steps below to listen to the interview.

To access the show , please visit: www.familyvaluesradio.net/ and click on the “Click to Listen” button. Scroll down to “Men’s Health Talk.”

Chronic Disease Stakeholder Forums

 

Dear Partners in Health:

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease (BTCD) is in the process of assessing priority areas for the use of the voter-approved Proposition 303 funds, generated from the state tobacco tax. This voter-approved initiative allows for 2% of tobacco tax revenue to be directed to the prevention and early detection of the four leading chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and stroke.

BTCD is pleased to invite you to participate in this prioritization process because of your expertise in addressing chronic disease prevention, early detection and management. Your input will help to inform decisions, and provide valuable input regarding the best strategies to address chronic disease in Arizona. BTCD will be hosting a series of teleconferenced forums where we will solicit input from our stakeholders regarding strategies to address the four leading chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and stroke.

Please click the links below for the letter of invitation for more information, and a schedule of calls. Your input will be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Letter to stakeholders

Stakeholder forums schedule

Wayne Tormala to be a Guest on “Men’s Health Talk Radio” Thursday February 18

Bureau of Tobacco and Chronic Disease Chief, Wayne Tormala will be a guest on the Men’s Health Talk Program radio show this Thursday Feb. 18 at 10:00am on KXXT-AM (1010). Mr. Tormala will join President & CEO of the American Lung Association of the S/W and TRUST Commission Chair Bill Pfeifer. Other guests include St. Joseph’s Hospital surgeon Dr. Rajat Walia and Dr. Phranq Tamburrie. This show’s topic is “Lung Disease; COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease & Lung Transplants.” In addition to lung disease, Mr. Tormala’s focus will be on the broader scope and importance of regular checkups for all forms of chronic disease.

 Listen live on the day of the show or visit the achieve section once the show has wrapped at www.familyvaluesradio.net

See attached flyer SWPCFRadioShow4

Kick Butts Day National Youth Call

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids would like to invite youth tobacco control advocates from across the U.S. to a collaborative conference call focused on Kick Butts Day 2010.

The purpose of this call is to provide an opportunity for state youth tobacco control movements to be updated on key tobacco issues and discuss plans for Kick Butts Day in their state.

Kick Butts Day is a day of activism that empowers youth to take action against tobacco use.

Please plan to join us on Tuesday, February 23rd as we prepare to STAND UP, SPEAK OUT AND SIEZE CONTROL AGAINST BIG TOBACCO.

State Preemption of Local Smoke-Free Laws

State Preemption of Local Smoke-Free Laws in Government Work Sites, Private Work Sites, and Restaurants — United States, 2005–2009

Feb. 5, 2010 MMWR Highlights

Substantial progress has been made toward the 2010 national health goal of eliminating the number of states that preempt local smoking restrictions, resulting in the potential for greater protection from secondhand smoke exposure.

State preemptive provisions prevent communities from enacting local smoke-free laws that are more stringent than or that vary from state laws.

From December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2009, the number of states that preempt local smoking restrictions in at least one of three settings — government worksites, private-sector worksites, and restaurants—decreased sharply from 19 to 12.