Public welcome for panel discussion on tobacco with tomorrow’s public health & medical leaders – Hamilton County Reporter

Annual lunch will highlight physical & economic consequences of tobacco

In collaboration with Trinity Free Clinic and the Hamilton County Health Department, Breathe Easy presents a Community Conversation about the physical and economic consequences of tobacco at noon on Thursday, July 28 at the Juvenile Services Center, 18106 Cumberland Road, Noblesville.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. RSVP for this event by emailing [email protected].

Lunch will highlight the point-of-sale tactics used by tobacco companies to attract both young people and adults. A panel discussion will be led by Tiffany Nichols, Advocacy Director for the American Lung Association. Nichols brings her extensive background in working with the State Department of Health, Black Expo, and other groups on smoke-free air. She is credited with playing an instrumental role in Indiana’s first smoke-free casino.

Nichols will moderate a discussion with pre-med and pre-public health students from Trinity Free Clinic and the Hamilton County Health Department. The interns wrote a white paper studying the Physical and Economic Impacts of Tobacco. They presented their findings to the Hamilton County Health Department at the beginning of July.

Ginder

The panelists include the following individuals:

• Allison Bullock, a Westfield graduate currently attending Purdue University. She is a pre-med intern at Trinity Free Clinic. She focused her studies on the behavioral health impacts of tobacco.
• Jocelyn Grider, a Guerin Catholic graduate. She attended University of Indianapolis and is currently seeking a master’s in Public Health. She focused on the public health consequences.
• Calina He, a pre-dental intern at Trinity Free Clinic. She graduated from Carmel High School and currently attends Indiana University. She looked at the oral health outcomes for smokers.
• Jim Ginder, from the Hamilton County Health Department will round out the group. Ginder has over 25 years in public health education in Hamilton County.

About Breathe Easy Hamilton County

As an alliance working with local organizations and individuals within the Hamilton County community, Breathe Easy promotes tobacco-free living in order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates. Breathe Easy is working to ensure that all workers in Hamilton County are protected from secondhand smoke exposure. Breathe Easy believes everyone deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air at work and in public places.