Cheryl Healton
Cheryl Healton
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Founding Dean of School of Global Public Health
Professor of Public Health Policy and Management
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Professional overview
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For the last ten years, Dean Healton has devoted herself to building GPH’s academic, service, and research programs. The School has been accredited by CEPH, increased the size of its student body and research funding, recruited top faculty, added doctoral-level programs, and made diversity, equity and inclusion a priority.
Previously, as the founding President and CEO of Legacy, a leading organization dedicated to tobacco control, Dean Healton guided the national youth tobacco prevention campaign, which has been credited with reducing youth smoking prevalence to record lows, and launched programs for smoking cessation, public education, technical assistance, and a broad range of grant making.
Prior to joining Legacy, Dean Healton held numerous roles at Columbia University including Associate Dean of its Medical School, Assistant Vice President for the Health Sciences and Chairman of Sociomedical Sciences, and Associate Dean of the Mailman School of Public Health. She is an Emeritus Professor of Columbia University.
Dean Healton has authored over 120 peer-reviewed articles and has been awarded multiple grants in AIDS, tobacco control and higher education. She was the founding chair of the Public Health Practice Council of the Association of Schools of Public Health. As an active member of the public health community she has given presentations around the world and is a frequent contributor to national and local coverage of public health issues.
She holds a DrPH from Columbia University's School of Public Health (with distinction) and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at NYU.
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Education
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MPA, Health Policy and Planning, New York University, New York, NYDrPH, Sociomedical Sciences (with distinction), Columbia University, New York, NY
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Areas of research and study
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Public Health LawPublic Health PolicyTobacco Control
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Publications
Publications
A balancing act : The tension between case-finding and primary prevention strategies in New York State's voluntary HIV counseling and testing program in women's health care settings
AbstractHealton, C., Healton, C., Howard, J., Messeri, P., Sorin, M. D., Abramson, D., & Bayer, R. (n.d.).Publication year
1996Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
12Issue
4 SUPPL.Page(s)
53-60AbstractThis study sought (1) to identify factors that influence women's willingness to accept voluntary HIV counseling and testing at New York State Family Planning Programs (FPPs) and Prenatal Care Assistance Programs (PCAPs) and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of such a voluntary counseling and testing program. Telephone interviews elicited organizational-level data from 136 agencies; a combination of telephone and face-to-face interviews was used to gather provider data from 98 HIV counselors; and client data were gathered from 354 women in face-to-face interviews at counseling sites. Slightly fewer than 60% of women agreed to be counseled, and, of those, under half consented to an HIV test at the counseling site. Approximately two thirds of the women who were tested returned for their results and posttest counseling. Clients' recall of pretest counseling content was relatively poor. Bivariate and regression analyses suggest that client, provider, and organizational factors are all associated with rates of pretest counseling and testing. The current voluntary counseling and testing program is achieving only moderate success. Although a substantial number of clients accept HIV counseling, many women remain reluctant to consent to HIV testing, and many who accept testing do not return for their results. Moreover, among those who receive pretest counseling, many do not recall important informational content, which suggests variation may exist in the quality of counseling or that one-time HIV counseling interventions are insufficient to communicate complex information. Medical Subject Headings (MeH): AIDS, HIV serodiagnosis, women's health, patient education.A Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update
AbstractHealton, C., & Fiore, M. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
American Journal of Preventive MedicineVolume
35Issue
2Page(s)
158-176Abstract~A closer look at smoking among young adults : Where tobacco control should focus its attention
AbstractGreen, M. P., McCausland, K. L., Xiao, H., Duke, J. C., Vallone, D. M., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
97Issue
8Page(s)
1427-1433AbstractObjectives. We sought to fill gaps in knowledge of smoking behaviors among college-educated and non-college-educated young adults. Methods. We used data from the 2003 Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey to analyze smoking behaviors among young adults aged 18-24 years and older young adults aged 25-34 years by college status (enrolled, or with a degree, but not enrolled) and other measures of socioeconomic position. Results. Current smoking prevalence among US young adults aged 18-24 years who are not enrolled in college or who do not have a college degree was 30%. This was more than twice the current smoking prevalence among college-educated young adults (14%). Non-college-educated young adults were more likely than were college-educated young adults to start smoking at a younger age and were less likely to have made a quit attempt, although no differences were found in their intentions to quit. Higher rates of smoking in the non-college-educated population were also evident in the slightly older age group. Conclusions. Non-college-educated young adults smoke at more than twice the rate of their college-educated counterparts. Targeted prevention and cessation efforts are needed for non-college-educated young adults to prevent excess morbidity and mortality in later years.A decision analysis of mandatory compared with voluntary HIV testing in pregnant women
AbstractNakchbandi, I. A., Longenecker, J. C., Ricksecker, M. A., Latta, R. A., Healton, C., & Smith, D. G. (n.d.).Publication year
1998Journal title
Annals of internal medicineVolume
128Issue
9Page(s)
760-767AbstractBackground: The benefit of antiretroviral therapy in reducing maternal- fetal transmission of HIV during pregnancy has caused a public policy debate about the relative benefits of mandatory HIV screening and voluntary HIV screening in pregnant women. Objective: To evaluate the benefits and risks of mandatory compared with voluntary HIV testing of pregnant women to help guide research and policy. Design: A decision analysis that incorporated the following variables: acceptance and benefit of prenatal care, acceptance and benefit of zidovudine therapy in HIV-infected women, prevalence of HIV infection, and mandatory compared with voluntary HIV testing. Measurements: The threshold deterrence rate (defined as the percentage of women who, if deterred from seeking prenatal care because of a mandatory HIV testing policy, would offset the benefit of zidovudine in reducing vertical HIV transmission) and the difference between a policy of mandatory testing and a policy of voluntary testing in the absolute number of HIV-infected infants or dead infants. Results: Voluntary HIV testing was preferred over a broad range of values in the model. At baseline, the threshold deterrence rate was 0.4%. At a deterrence rate of 0.5%, the number of infants (n = 167) spared HIV infection annually in the United States under a mandatory HIV testing policy would be lower than the number of perinatal deaths (n = 189) caused by lack of prenatal care. Conclusions: The most important variables in the model were voluntary HIV testing, the deterrence rate associated with mandatory testing compared with voluntary testing, and the prevalence of HIV infection in women of childbearing age. At high levels of acceptance of voluntary HIV testing, the benefits of a policy of mandatory testing are minimal and may create the potential harms of avoiding prenatal care to avoid mandatory testing.A New York State Community Services Programs: Past Accomplishments and Future Directions
AbstractMoon-Howard, J., Healton, C., Messeri, P., & Jefferson, L. (n.d.).Publication year
1992Abstract~A Tri-County Survey of the Personnel Needs of HIV/AIDS Service Agencies : C.H.A.I.N. Technical Report #5
AbstractHealton, C., Haviland, L., Weinberg, G., & Messeri, P. (n.d.).Publication year
1995Abstract~A Tri-County Survey of the Personnel Needs of HIV/AIDS Service Agencies : Community Health AIDS Information Network Technical Report #5
AbstractHealton, C., Messeri, P., & Aidala, A. A. (n.d.).Publication year
1995Abstract~Accessing Medical and Social Services: Barriers and Strategies for Improving HIV Care infrastructure. : C.H.A.I.N. Technical Report #14
AbstractMesseri, P., Healton, C., & Aidala, A. A. (n.d.).Publication year
1996Abstract~Adverse Reactions to Public Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic; Lessons Learned
AbstractHealton, C., Fairchild, A., Jones, M., & del Rio, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Page(s)
naAbstract~Afterword for The Public Health Perspective: Have Hard-core Smokers Been Written Off?
AbstractSeidman, D. F., Covey, L. S., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Abstract~AI integrations with lung cancer screening : Considerations in developing AI in a public health setting
AbstractMulshine, J. L., Avila, R. S., Sylva, M., Aldige, C., Blum, T., Cham, M., de Koning, H. J., Fain, S. B., Field, J., Flores, R., Giger, M. L., Gipp, I., Grannis, F. W., Gratama, J. W., Healton, C., Kazerooni, E. A., Kelly, K., Lancaster, H. L., Montuenga, L. M., … Yankelelvitz, D. F. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
European Journal of CancerVolume
220AbstractLung cancer screening implementation has led to expanded imaging of the chest in older, tobacco-exposed populations. Growing numbers of screening cases are also found to have CT-detectable emphysema or elevated levels of coronary calcium, indicating the presence of coronary artery disease. Early interventions based on these additional findings, especially with coronary calcium, are emerging and follow established protocols. Given the pace of diagnostic innovation and the potential public health impact, it is timely to review issues in developing useful chest CT screening infrastructure as chest CT screening will soon involve millions of participants worldwide. Lung cancer screening succeeds because it detects curable, early primary lung cancer by characterizing and measuring changes in non-calcified, lung nodules in the size-range from 3mm to 15 mm in diameter. Therefore, close attention to imaging methodology is essential to lung screening success and similar image quality issues are required for reliable quantitative characterization of early emphysema and coronary artery disease. Today's emergence of advanced image analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting many aspects of medical imaging including chest CT screening. Given these emerging technological and volume trends, a major concern is how to balance the diverse needs of parties committed to building AI tools for precise, reproducible, and economical chest CT screening, while addressing the public health needs of screening participants receiving this service. A new consortium, the Alliance for Global Implementation of Lung and Cardiac Early Disease Detection and Treatment (AGILEDxRx) is committed to facilitate broad, equitable implementation of multi-disciplinary, high quality chest CT screening using advanced computational tools at accessible cost.An HIV Counseling and Testing in New York State Family Planning and Prenatal Care Assistance Programs
AbstractHealton, C., Moon-Howard, J., Abramson, D., & Bayer, R. (n.d.).Publication year
1993Abstract~Backlash: The War on Public Health, Editors Amy Fairchild, Cheryl Healton, Marian Jones, Ron Bayer, Georges Benjamin (accepted in contract in 2023, anticpated publication 2024Healton Chapters lead and contributor:1-Introduction: The War on Public Health, Then and Now (with Bayer, fairchild, Jones, Benjamin) 2-Backlash in the System: The Experience within Governmental Public Health Healton (lead) with Benjamin, Juliano, Pagan3-The Case for a Truth Campaign for Public Health Healton (lead) Jack Leslie
AbstractHealton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Abstract~Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment in the Dominican Republic : Perspectives of Focus Group Participants in the Santo Domingo Area
AbstractLiebermann, E. J., VanDevanter, N., Shirazian, T., Frías Gúzman, N., Niles, M., Healton, C., & Ompad, D. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2020Journal title
Journal of Transcultural NursingVolume
31Issue
2Page(s)
121-127AbstractIntroduction: Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the Dominican Republic, and high rates persist despite existing Pap smear screening programs. The purpose of this study was to explore Dominican women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening practices, and perceived barriers and facilitators to early detection of cervical cancer. Method: Six focus groups (N = 64) were conducted in Spanish in urban, suburban, and rural locations, in private and public school settings, community and workplace settings, in or near Santo Domingo, as part of a larger study on barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccine implementation. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and translated from Spanish to English. Qualitative data analysis used inductive and deductive approaches. Results: Knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer varied across groups, but all agreed there was significant stigma and fear regarding HPV. Most women reported having Pap screening at least yearly. Follow-up of abnormal Pap testing was less consistent, with cost and uncertainty about provider recommendations identified as barriers. Discussion: Broader examination of provider-level and health system barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer prevention in the Dominican Republic is essential, in order to inform interventions to improve the effectiveness of cervical cancer screening and treatment programs and reduce preventable deaths.Building a united front : Aligning the agendas for tobacco control, lung cancer research, and policy
AbstractGritz, E. R., Sarna, L., Dresler, C., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and PreventionVolume
16Issue
5Page(s)
859-863AbstractOur society bears a tremendous public health burden from tobacco-related disability and death, particularly in the realm of cancer. Yet research in lung cancer and other tobacco-related diseases research is dramatically underfunded when compared to the number of people affected. Persuading policy makers to increase funding for tobacco-related research, treatment, and policy initiatives will require considerable cooperation among the researchers, clinicians, and advocates who focus on tobacco control and those who concentrate on tobacco-related disease. Traditionally, these groups have battled over resources, expending precious energy competing for scarce funding. We propose a new way forward: these forces should come together in support of a common agenda that includes both increased tobacco control efforts and additional funding for disease-related research and treatment. Speaking with a unified voice in support of a full continuum of tobacco-related policy initiatives would significantly increase the size and influence of the coalition working to address this public health epidemic. Working together offers our nation the best chance of significantly reducing the scourge of disease and death caused by tobacco use.Butt really? The environmental impact of cigarettes
AbstractHealton, C., Michael Cummings, K., O'Connor, R. J., & Novotny, T. E. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
Tobacco controlVolume
20Issue
1 SUPPLPage(s)
1Abstract~C.H.A.I.N. Technical Report #17 : Summary Tables for Time 2 Client Survey
AbstractHealton, C., Messeri, P., Aidala, A. A., Weinberg, G., & Lekas, H. M. (n.d.).Publication year
1996Abstract~Camel No. 9 cigarette-marketing campaign targeted young teenage girls
AbstractPierce, J. P., Messer, K., James, L. E., White, M. M., Kealey, S., Vallone, D. M., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2010Journal title
PediatricsVolume
125Issue
4Page(s)
619-626AbstractCONTEXT: The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) restricted tobacco industry advertising practices that targeted teens. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether cigarette-advertising campaigns conducted after the MSA continue to influence smoking among adolescents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were a national longitudinal cohort of 1036 adolescents (baseline age: 10-13 years) enrolled in a parenting study. Between 2003 and 2008, 5 sequential telephone interviews were conducted, including the participants report of brand of "favorite" cigarette advertisement. The fifth interview was conducted after the start of RJ Reynolds' innovative "Camel No. 9" advertising campaign in 2007. Smoking outcome reported from the fifth survey. RESULTS: The response rate through the fifth survey was 71.8%. Teenagers who reported any favorite cigarette ad at baseline (mean age: 11.7 years) were 50% more likely to have smoked by the fifth interview (adjusted odds ratio: 1.5 [95% confidence interval: 1.0-2.3]). For boys, the proportion with a favorite ad was stable across all 5 surveys, as it was for girls across the first 4 surveys. However, after the start of the Camel No. 9 advertising campaign, the proportion of girls who reported a favorite ad increased by 10 percentage points, to 44%. The Camel brand accounted almost entirely for this increase, and the proportion of each gender that nominated the Marlboro brand remained relatively stable. CONCLUSIONS: After the MSA, adolescents continued to be responsive to cigarette advertising, and those who were responsive were more likely to start smoking. Recent RJ Reynolds advertising may be effectively targeting adolescent girls.Chianti Bottle and Flowering Plants as Therapeutic Environmental Agents in State Hospital
AbstractHealton, C., Talbott, J., Stern, D., & Shaw, J. (n.d.).Publication year
1980Journal title
Hospital and Community PsychiatryAbstract~Community Services Program: Seven Years of Community Response to AIDS
AbstractHealton, C., Messeri, P., Moon-Howard, J., & Nsiah-Jefferson, L. (n.d.).Publication year
1990Abstract~Comparing adolescent reactions to national tobacco countermarketing advertisements using Web TV
AbstractNiederdeppe, J., Hersey, J. C., Farrelly, M. C., Haviland, M. L., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2005Journal title
Social Marketing QuarterlyVolume
11Issue
1Page(s)
3-18AbstractThis study examined youth reactions to four tobacco countermarketing messages from the national truth® and "Think. Don't Smoke" tobacco countermarketing campaigns through Web TV using a forced exposure approach. More than 900 respondents completed a baseline survey that established their smoking intentions and behaviors; viewed a series of randomly ordered tobacco countermarketing advertisements; and, after each ad, answered six items gauging individual ad reactions. Respondents across smoking risk groups had more favorable reactions to two ads produced for Legacy's truth® campaign ("Body Bags" and "Daily Dose") compared with all other messages tested. Philip Morris' "My Reasons" received favorable evaluations among teens at lowest risk for future smoking, but consistent with our predictions derived from the theory of psychological reactance (Brehm, 1966), older teens at elevated risk of future smoking responded much less favorably. Teens without prior exposure to another truth® ad using the counter-industry message ("Shredder") rated this ad less favorably. Results underscore the importance of both prior exposure and message features and suggest the presence of other factors associated with ad effectiveness, including message clarity and stylistic presentation.Computer-Assisted Instruction in Aids Infection Control for Physicians
AbstractHealton, C., Garrett, T. J., Gary, S., Dobkin, J. F., & Cheryl, H. (n.d.).Publication year
1990Journal title
Teaching and Learning in MedicineVolume
2Issue
4Page(s)
215-218AbstractA program to provide health care workers instruction in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) infection control was developed to run on IBM microcomputers. This program can be used by individuals with no computer experience. It was assessed by medical resident physicians who were randomized into a control and an experimental group. A 48-item true-false test on AIDS knowledge was administered to both groups. The experimental group completed a questionnaire on their views of CAI. The mean knowledge score for the control group (n = 33) was 35.9 (SD = 3.9), whereas the mean knowledge score for the experimental group (n = 24) was 42.4 (SD = 4.6), a statistically significant difference (pControlling AIDS in Cuba
AbstractGordon, A. M., Paya, R., Healton, C., & Bayer, R. (n.d.).Publication year
1989Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
321Issue
12Page(s)
829-830AbstractTo the Editor: The Special Report by Bayer and Healton (April 13 issue)1 on the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Cuba raises questions that should be considered in the light of the available information. Indeed, Cuba's approach to AIDS control is unique. It does not emphasize education, it has screened about 4 million persons and plans to screen the entire population of the island, and it has reported a seropositive rate that is comparable to that of Oklahoma. How a Caribbean island with a 500 percent increase in gonorrhea in the past 10 years,2 a contingent of 380,000 in Africa….Controlling AIDS in Cuba
AbstractBayer, R., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
1989Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
320Issue
15Page(s)
1022-1024AbstractUnlike any other nation, Cuba has embarked on a program to control the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) that is designed to limit the spread of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by invoking the compulsory elements of the public health tradition. Widespread screening for HIV infection began in Cuba three years ago, and persons identified as infected have been sent to a sanatorium located in a Havana suburb. This unique reliance on a modified quarantine extends to all HIV-infected persons. A recent visit to Cuba as guests of the Ministry of Health permitted us to talk with Cuban officials…