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
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. G. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
6Page(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
Healton, C. G., & Nelson, K. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
94Issue
2Page(s)
186-191Will the master settlement agreement achieve a lasting legacy?
AbstractHealton, C. G., Haviland, M. L., & Vargyas, E. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Health promotion practiceVolume
5Issue
3Page(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.
Haviland, L., Healton, C. G., Fee, E., Brown, T. M., Toomey, B. A., & Kastens, B. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
93Issue
7Page(s)
1045Forward: Selections from the American Journal of Public Health
Boyle, (Peter), & Healton, C. (n.d.). In Tobacco and Public Health (1–).Publication year
2003Obesity and Tobacco
Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
News and World ReportSmoking in the Movies
Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
Washington PostTobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students – United States, 2002
Allen, 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 - 1098Getting to the truth: Evaluating national tobacco countermarketing campaigns
AbstractFarrelly, M. C., Healton, C. G., 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.
Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2002Journal title
North Carolina medical journalVolume
63Issue
3Page(s)
162-164Controlling tobacco use [3] (multiple letters)
Healton, C., Schroeder, S. A., Smith, S. C., Cady, B., Kessler, K. M., Fichtenberg, C., & Glantz, S. A. (n.d.). In New England Journal of Medicine (1–).Publication year
2001Volume
344Issue
23Page(s)
1797-1799Who's afraid of the truth?
AbstractHealton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
91Issue
4Page(s)
554-558AbstractThe November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between tobacco manufacturers and state attorneys general significantly restricted the marketing of tobacco products, made possible markedly expanded tobacco control programs in the states, and provided for the creation of a new foundation whose primary purpose is to combat tobacco use in the United States. This commentary describes the American Legacy Foundation, with particular emphasis on one of its efforts - the "truth" Campaign, a counter-marketing effort to reduce smoking among youths. The "truth" Campaign has been well received by the public and has been effective in reducing smoking among youths. The only negative reaction to the campaign has been, predictably, from the tobacco industry.Women and Smoking
Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
USA TodayThe adolescent years: An academic-community partnership in Harlem comes of age.
AbstractNorthridge, M. E., Vallone, D., Merzel, C., Greene, D., Shepard, P., Cohall, A. T., & Healton, C. G. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMPVolume
6Issue
1Page(s)
53-60AbstractMuch has been written about the potential benefits in health promotion that are possible through partnerships between academic institutions and community-based organizations, but little practical advice has been provided on how to sustain these relationships when the original grant funds have been exhausted. Here we document our experiences in Harlem, New York City, a community with grave social, structural, and physical environmental inequities, and describe the successes and failings of a partnership now in its "adolescence" between researchers at the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University and community activists at West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT).Tobacco use among middle and high school students--United States, 1999.
Healton, C., Messeri, P., Reynolds, J., Wolfe, C., Stokes, C., Ross, J., Flint, K., Robb, W., & Farrelly, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly reportVolume
49Issue
3Page(s)
49-53Women and tobacco: with the master settlement agreement, we've come a long way, baby!
AbstractHealton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
Journal of the American Medical Women's Association (1972)Volume
55Issue
5Page(s)
303, 310AbstractThis commentary provides a brief overview of the impact tobacco has on the health of women. Tobacco control activities that reduce the number of young people who start smoking, reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and increase the ability of Americans to successfully quit have the capacity to markedly reduce the toll of tobacco. The efforts can be greatly enhanced by the unprecedented opportunity the master settlement agreement (MSA) between the state attorneys general and the tobacco industry presents for directing resources to those policies and programs that are most effective in stemming tobacco use. The relentless increase in tobacco marketing reaching teens and ethnic minority women makes ever more urgent our concerted efforts to confront those policy initiatives that can ensure the MSA is adhered to fully.Youth tobacco surveillance United States, 1998-1999
Failed generating bibliography.Publication year
2000Journal title
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly ReportAfterword for The Public Health Perspective: Have Hard-core Smokers Been Written Off?
Seidman, D. F., Covey, L. S., & Healton, C. (n.d.). In Helping the Hard-core Smoker: A Clinician’s Guide (1–).Publication year
1999Creating training opportunities for public health practitioners
AbstractGreene, D., Healton, C., Hamburg, M., Rosenfield, A., Cagan, E., Van Wie, W., & Haviland, M. L. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
16Issue
3Page(s)
80-85AbstractIn response to several reports issued by the federal government and private foundations on the under-training of public health practitioners, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University (SPH) and the New York City Department of Health (NYC DOH) initiated the Public Health Scholars program (SPH-PHS) to make degree-level public health training available to NYC DOH employees. Public Health Scholars receive a 50% tuition scholarship and enroll part-time while working full-time at NYC DOH. Sixteen scholars have enrolled during the past three years. The SPH-PHS program is considered a success by both SPH and NYC DOH. This article details the history of the collaboration between the two agencies and the structure of the program and provides a critical analysis of the SPH-PHS program based on interviews with 16 scholars. It also examines the cost and benefit to other schools of public health of implementing such a program.Effects of ZDV-based patient education on intentions toward ZDV use, HIV testing and reproduction among a US cohort of women
AbstractHealton, C., Taylor, S., Messeri, P., Weinberg, G., & Bamji, M. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Journal title
AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIVVolume
11Issue
6Page(s)
675-686AbstractThis study examined the immediate effects of exposure to a patient education brochure concerning the risks and benefits of zidovudine (ZDV) therapy during pregnancy to reduce perinatal HIV transmission (protocol ACTG 076) on related knowledge, behavioural intentions and attitudes of women with and at-risk for HIV-infection. Self-reports were collected from 653 women of childbearing age from community family planning clinics and hospital-based HIV centres in 19 sites from nine US cities between May and November 1995. The intervention was a nine-page patient education brochure in Spanish, Creole and English versions, evenly presenting the pros and cons of ZDV therapy to reduce perinatal HIV-transmission. Brochure exposure increased knowledge (P < 0.001) for all but one scale concerning ZDV resistance and increased the likelihood of women reporting intentions to take ZDV during pregnancy (p < 0.001) and to believe ZDV reduced transmission (p < 0.001). Brochure exposure had differential effects for some subpopulations. Intentions to have or terminate current or future pregnancies, knowledge about ZDV and attitudes toward ZDV varied mostly by ethnicity/race, language preference and HIV status. Pregnancy status, age, education and having an HIV-positive child had less impact on the brochure's effect, while income had no impact.Safer sex strategies for women: The hierarchical model in methadone treatment clinics
AbstractStein, Z., Saez, H., El-Sadr, W., Healton, C., Mannheimer, S., Messeri, P., Scimeca, M. M., Van Devanter, N., Zimmerman, R., & Betne, P. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Journal title
Journal of Urban HealthVolume
76Issue
1Page(s)
62-72AbstractWomen clients of a methadone maintenance treatment clinic were targeted for an intervention aimed to reduce unsafe sex. The hierarchical model was the basis of the single intervention session, tested among 63 volunteers. This model requires the educator to discuss and demonstrate a full range of barriers that women might use for protection, ranking these in the order of their known efficacy. The model stresses that no one should go without protection. Two objections, both untested, have been voiced against the model. One is that, because of its complexity, women will have difficulty comprehending the message. The second is that, by demonstrating alternative strategies to the male condom, the educator is offering women a way out from persisting with the male condom, so that instead they will use an easier, but less effective, method of protection. The present research aimed at testing both objections in a high-risk and disadvantaged group of women. By comparing before and after performance on a knowledge test, it was established that, at least among these women, the complex message was well understood. By comparing baseline and follow-up reports of barriers used by sexually active women before and after intervention, a reduction in reports of unsafe sexual encounters was demonstrated. The reduction could be attributed directly to adoption of the female condom. Although some women who had used male condoms previously adopted the female condom, most of those who did so had not used the male condom previously. Since neither theoretical objection to the hierarchical model is sustained in this population, fresh weight is given to emphasizing choice of barriers, especially to women who are at high risk and relatively disempowered. As experience with the female condom grows and its unfamiliarity decreases, it would seem appropriate to encourage women who do not succeed with the male condom to try to use the female condom, over which they have more control.The shape of our river
Healton, C. G. (n.d.).Publication year
1999Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
16Issue
3Page(s)
1-4A 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.Directly observed therapy and treatment completion for tuberculosis in the United States: Is universal supervised therapy necessary?
AbstractBayer, R., Stayton, C., Desvarieux, M., Healton, C., Landesman, S., & Tsai, W. Y. (n.d.).Publication year
1998Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
88Issue
7Page(s)
1052-1058AbstractObjectives. This study examined the relationship between directly observed therapy and treatment completion rates in the years before and after infusion of federal funding for tuberculosis (TB) control in 1993. Methods. An ecological study of estimated directly observed therapy rates and 12- month treatment completion rates from 1990 through 1994 was undertaken for TB control programs in all 25 cities and counties across the nation with 100 or more incident TB cases in any year from 1990 to 1993. Three cohorts were formed: high treatment completion, intermediate completion, and low completion. Results. In 1990, the median 12-month treatment completion rate was 80% for the entire study population, with a median estimated directly observed therapy rate of 16.8%. By 1994, those rates had increased to 87% and 49.4%, respectively, and increases were shown in all 3 cohorts. Conclusions. Directly observed therapy has had a marked impact on treatment completion rates in jurisdictions with historically low rates. But TB treatment completion rates of more than 90% can be attained with directly observed therapy rates far lower than those proposed by advocates of universal supervised therapy.