Cheryl Healton
Cheryl Healton
Scroll
Founding Dean of School of Global Public Health
Professor of Public Health Policy and Management
-
Professional overview
-
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.
-
Education
-
MPA, Health Policy and Planning, New York University, New York, NYDrPH, Sociomedical Sciences (with distinction), Columbia University, New York, NY
-
Areas of research and study
-
Public Health LawPublic Health PolicyTobacco Control
-
Publications
Publications
Smoking, obesity, and their co-occurrence in the United States : Cross sectional analysis
AbstractHealton, C., Vallone, D., McCausland, K. L., Xiao, H., & Green, M. P. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
British Medical JournalVolume
333Issue
7557Page(s)
25-26AbstractObjectives: To describe the prevalence of obesity, smoking, and both health risk factors together among adults in the United States. Design: Cross sectional analysis of a national health interview survey. Setting: United States. Participants: 29 305 adults (aged ≥ 18) in 2002. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of adults who are obese (body mass index ≥ 30), who smoke, and who are obese and smoke. Prevalence was stratified by age, sex, ethnic group, education, and income. Results: 23.5% of adults were obese, 22.7% smoked, and 4.7% smoked and were obese. Conclusions: Although the proportion of adults who smoke and are obese is relatively low, this subgroup is concentrated among lower socioeconomic groups.Televised movie trailers : Undermining restrictions on advertising tobacco to youth
AbstractHealton, C., Watson-Stryker, E. S., Allen, J. A., Vallone, D. M., Messeri, P. A., Graham, P. R., Stewart, A. M., Dobbins, M. D., & Glantz, S. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent MedicineVolume
160Issue
9Page(s)
885-888AbstractObjective: To determine the proportion of televised movie trailers that included images of tobacco use during 1 year and the extent of youth exposure to those trailers. Design: Content analysis combined with Nielsen data measuring media exposure. All movie trailers (N=216) shown on television from August 1, 2001, through July 31, 2002. Main Outcome Measures: Exposure among youth aged 12 to 17 years to televised movie trailers that included smoking imagery. Results: Of the movie trailers televised during the study period, 14.4% (31 trailers) included images of tobacco use. Tobacco use was shown in 24.0% of the 23 trailers for R-rated (restricted) movies and 7.5% of the 8 trailers for PG-13- and PG-rated (parental guidance) movies. Ninety-five percent of all youth aged 12 to 17 years in the United States saw at least 1 movie trailer depicting tobacco use on television during this 1 year, and 88.8% saw at least 1 of these trailers 3 or more times. Conclusions: Nearly all US youth aged 12 to 17 years were exposed to images of tobacco use on television in the context of a movie trailer during the study period. Given the relationship between youth exposure to tobacco use in movies and smoking initiation, the public health community should work to enact policy to reduce or eliminate the influence of tobacco use in televised movie trailers.Youth smoking prevention and tobacco industry revenue
AbstractHealton, C., Farrelly, M. C., Weitzenkamp, D., Lindsey, D., & Haviland, M. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
Tobacco controlVolume
15Issue
2Page(s)
103-106AbstractObjectives: Epidemiological surveys make it clear that youth smoking contributes to both current and future tobacco industry revenue: over 80% of adult smokers reportedly began smoking before age 18. This paper estimates annual and lifetime revenue from youth smoking, and highlights the association between declines in youth smoking and declines in tobacco industry revenue. Main outcome measures: This paper reports the amount of tobacco industry revenue generated by youth smoking at two points in time (1997 and 2002), and describes the distribution of youth generated tobacco income among the major tobacco companies. The authors project the amount of tobacco industry revenue that will be generated by members of two cohorts (the high school senior classes of 1997 and 2002) over the course of their lifetimes. Results: In 1997, youth consumed 890 million cigarette packs, generating $737 million in annual industry revenue. By 2002, consumption dropped to 541 million packs and revenue increased to nearly $1.2 billion. Fifty eight per cent of youth generated revenue goes to Philip Morris USA, 18% to Lorillard, and 12% to RJ Reynolds. The authors project that, over the course of their lives, the 1997 high school senior class will smoke 12.4 billion packs of cigarettes, generating $27.3 billion in revenue. The 2002 high school senior class is projected to smoke 10.4 billion packs, generating $22.9 billion in revenue over the course of their lives. Conclusions: Cigarette price increases from 1997 to 2002 have resulted in greater revenue for the tobacco industry, despite declines in youth smoking prevalence. However, in the absence of further cigarette price increases, declines in youth smoking are projected to lead ultimately to a loss of approximately $4 billion in future tobacco industry revenue from a single high school cohort.Youth tobacco surveillance--United States, 2001-2002.
AbstractMarshall, L. T., Schooley, M., Ryan, H., Cox, P., Easton, A., Healton, C., Jackson, K., Davis, K. C., & Homsi, G. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
MMWR. Surveillance summaries : Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries / CDC.Volume
55Issue
3Page(s)
1-56AbstractPROBLEM/CONDITION: Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 440,000 deaths each year. The prevalence of cigarette smoking nationwide among high school students (grades 9-12) increased during the 1990s, peaking during 1996-1997, and then declined. Approximately 80% of tobacco users initiate use before age 18 years. An estimated 6.4 million children agedComparing 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.Evidence of a dose-response relationship between "truth" antismoking ads and youth smoking prevalence
AbstractFarrelly, M. C., Davis, K. C., Haviland, M. L., Messeri, P., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2005Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
95Issue
3Page(s)
425-431AbstractObjectives. In early 2000, the American Legacy Foundation launched the national "truth" campaign, the first national antismoking campaign to discourage tobacco use among youths. We studied the impact of the campaign on national smoking rates among US youths (students in grades 8, 10, and 12). Methods. We used data from the Monitoring the Future survey in a pre/post quasi-experimental design to relate trends in youth smoking prevalence to varied doses of the "truth" campaign in a national sample of approximately 50 000 students in grades 8, 10, and 12, surveyed each spring from 1997 through 2002. Results. Findings indicate that the campaign accounted for a significant portion of the recent decline in youth smoking prevalence. We found that smoking prevalence among all students declined from 25.3% to 18.0% between 1999 and 2002 and that the campaign accounted for approximately 22% of this decline. Conclusions. This study showed that the campaign was associated with substantial declines in youth smoking and has accelerated recent declines in youth smoking prevalence.Flavored Tobacco Products
AbstractHealton, C. (n.d.). In Washington Post.Publication year
2005Abstract~Physician and dentist tobacco use counseling and adolescent smoking behavior : Results from the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey
AbstractShelley, D., Cantrell, J., Faulkner, D., Haviland, L., Healton, C., & Messeri, P. (n.d.).Publication year
2005Journal title
PediatricsVolume
115Issue
3Page(s)
719-725AbstractObjective. The present study describes patterns of tobacco use counseling among physicians and dentists as reported by adolescents and determines the association between provider advice to quit and cessation activities among current smokers. Methods. Data were analyzed from the 2000 National Youth Tobacco Survey, an anonymous, self-administered, school-based survey. The National Youth Tobacco Survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of 35 828 students in grades 6 to 12 in 324 schools. Results. Thirty-three percent of adolescents who visited a physician or a dentist in the past year reported that a physician counseled them about the dangers of tobacco use, and 20% reported that a dentist provided a similar message. Among students who smoked in the past year, 16.4% received advice to quit from a physician and 11.6% received advice to quit from a dentist. Physician or dentist advice to quit was correlated with 1 or more quit attempts in the past 12 months. Conclusion. On the basis of adolescent reports, physician and dentist practice patterns remain well below recommended guidelines. Results suggest that provider advice to quit is associated with cessation activity. Additional studies are needed to confirm whether the low prevalence of brief provider tobacco use counseling is a missed opportunity to affect adolescent smoking behavior.Giving infants a Great Start : Launching a national smoking cessation program for pregnant women
AbstractHaviland, L., Thornton, A. H., Carothers, S., Hund, L., Allen, J. A., Kastens, B., Wojciak, A., Hamasaka, L., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
6Issue
SUPPL. 2Page(s)
S181-S188AbstractData suggest that 12%-22% of women smoke during pregnancy. The link between smoking during pregnancy and adverse health and reproductive outcomes has been well documented. Great Start is a public education and smoking cessation program developed especially for pregnant women. Launched in December 2001, Great Start was the first national program focused on providing free and confidential smoking cessation counseling to pregnant women through a toll-free quitline. Great Start consisted of a media campaign to raise awareness and direct women to telephone counseling tailored for the pregnant smoker, and educational materials designed to support pregnant women through cessation counseling. The program was evaluated to assess the ability of the television ads to reach pregnant smokers and the effectiveness of a quitline for increasing cessation rates among pregnant women. Great Start demonstrates that it is possible to reach pregnant smokers through television ads that provide information about the consequences of smoking while pregnant, are affirming in tone, and provide direction for women to take action. Initial response to the program indicates that pregnant women want to quit and confirms the need for programs designed specifically to address the needs of this population.Preventing 3 Million Premature Deaths and Helping 5 Million Smokers Quit : A National Action Plan for Tobacco Cessation
AbstractFiore, M. C., Croyle, R. T., Curry, S. J., Cutler, C. M., Davis, R. M., Gordon, C., Healton, C., Koh, H. K., Orleans, C. T., Richling, D., Satcher, D., Seffrin, J., Williams, C., Williams, L. N., Keller, P. A., & Baker, T. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
94Issue
2Page(s)
205-210AbstractIn August 2002, the Subcommittee on Cessation of the Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health (ICSH) was charged with developing recommendations to substantially increase rates of tobacco cessation in the United States. The subcommittee's report, A National Action Plan for Tobacco Cessation, outlines 10 recommendations for reducing premature morbidity and mortality by helping millions of Americans stop using tobacco. The plan includes both evidence-based, population-wide strategies designed to promote cessation (e.g., a national quitline network) and a Smokers' Health Fund to finance the programs (through a $2 per pack excise tax increase). The subcommittee report was presented to the ICSH (February 11, 2003). which unanimously endorsed sending it to Secretary Thompson for his consideration. In this article, we summarize the national action plan.Reversal of Misfortune : Viewing Tobacco as a Social Justice Issue
AbstractHealton, C., & Nelson, K. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
94Issue
2Page(s)
186-191Abstract~Will the master settlement agreement achieve a lasting legacy?
AbstractHealton, C., Haviland, M. L., & Vargyas, E. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Health promotion practiceVolume
5Issue
3 SupplPage(s)
12S-17SAbstractThis article outlines the mission and activities of the American Legacy Foundation (Legacy)-the public charity created by the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between 46 states attorneys general and the tobacco industry. Payments to Legacy are made by the 46 settling states. Legacy has achieved much in its short 5-year tenure and has faced and continues to face challenges. These include the "sunset" clause of the MSA that may terminate payments to Legacy's public education fund-the source of funds for most of Legacy's public education campaigns and grant making, a unique set of MSA provisions intended to rein in the activities of Legacy and rising public expectations in the context of sharply reduced resources. The inextricable link between Legacy, state tobacco control, and the politics of tobacco are discussed.Courage and dignity.
AbstractHaviland, L., Healton, C., Fee, E., Brown, T. M., Toomey, B. A., & Kastens, B. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
93Issue
7Page(s)
1045Abstract~Erratum : Getting to the truth: Evaluating national tobacco countermarketing campaigns (American Journal of Public Health (2002) 92 (901-907))
AbstractHealton, C., Farrelly, M. C., Healton, C. G., Davis, K. C., Messeri, P., Hersey, J. C., & Haviland, M. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
93Issue
5Abstract~Forward: Selections from the American Journal of Public Health
AbstractBoyle, (Peter), & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Abstract~Obesity and Tobacco
AbstractHealton, C. (n.d.). In News and World Report.Publication year
2003Abstract~Smoking in the Movies
AbstractHealton, C. (n.d.). In Washington Post.Publication year
2003Abstract~Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students – United States, 2002
AbstractAllen, J., Vallone, D., Haviland, M. L., Healton, C., Davis, K., Farrelly, M., Husten, C., & Pechacek, T. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly ReportVolume
52Issue
45Page(s)
1096 - 1098Abstract~Getting to the truth : Evaluating national tobacco countermarketing campaigns
AbstractFarrelly, M. C., Healton, C., Davis, K. C., Messeri, P., Hersey, J. C., & Haviland, M. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
92Issue
6Page(s)
901-907AbstractObjectives. This study examines how the American Legacy Foundation's "truth" campaign and Philip Morris's "Think. Don't Smoke" campaign have influenced youths' attitudes, beliefs, and intentions toward tobacco. Methods. We analyzed 2 telephone surveys of 12- to 17-year-olds with multivariate logistic regressions: a baseline survey conducted before the launch of "truth" and a second survey 10 months into the "truth" campaign. Results. Exposure to "truth" countermarketing advertisements was consistently associated with an increase in anti-tobacco attitudes and beliefs, whereas exposure to Philip Morris advertisements generally was not. In addition, those exposed to Philip Morris advertisements were more likely to be open to the idea of smoking. Conclusions. Whereas exposure to the "truth" campaign positively changed youths' attitudes toward tobacco, the Philip Morris campaign had a counterproductive influence.Speaking truth(sm) to youth. How the American Legacy Foundation is helping teens reject tobacco.
AbstractHealton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
North Carolina medical journalVolume
63Issue
3Page(s)
162-164Abstract~Controlling tobacco use [3] (multiple letters)
AbstractHealton, C., Schroeder, S. A., Smith, S. C., Cady, B., Kessler, K. M., Fichtenberg, C., & Glantz, S. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
344Issue
23Page(s)
1797-1799Abstract~Erratum : Who's afraid of the truth? (American Journal of Public Health (2001) 91 (554-558))
AbstractHealton, C., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
91Issue
5Abstract~