Rochester Associate Professor, nominated by Senator O'Brien, appointed to State Tobacco Board

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Scott McIntosh, Ph.D., director of the Greater Rochester Area Tobacco Cessation Center (GRATCC) and associate professor, Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), was nominated by Senator Ted O'Brien to the New York State Tobacco Control Program Advisory Board. His appointment was made in late June and he began serving on the board this month.

"I am grateful to Dr. McIntosh for his desire to use his expertise to make New York State a better place to live," Senator O'Brien said. "The effects of smoking continue to hurt the quality of life of millions of New Yorkers, and also introduce enormous medical costs that are borne by us all. This appointment is another example of how our region is not only a leader in scientific and medical knowledge, but also in the ability to quickly apply that knowledge to practical programs."

McIntosh has been with the URMC since 1996 and has more than a decade of experience both researching the effects of smoking and promoting smoking cessation efforts. His work has been published in the International Journal of the Addictions, Nicotine and Tobacco Research and Preventative Medicine. He has studied how useful Web tools can be in helping young people quit smoking and has worked to expand the availability of tobacco cessation counseling and knowledge of the state Smokers' Quitline in healthcare providers' offices.

“Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. with an estimated 228,000 new lung cancer diagnosis expected in 2013 according to the American Cancer Society,” said McIntosh. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with the board to develop and execute new ways to assist individuals in the community to quit smoking and improve their health.”

The Tobacco Control Program of the state Department of Health works to evaluate and introduce new initiatives and strategies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, including the implementation of the Clean Indoor Air Law. Its priorities include reducing secondhand smoke exposure, helping smokers quit and trying to prevent young people from starting in the first place.

-30-

Sen. O’Brien represents the 55th district in the Senate, which is made up of the eastern half of Monroe County and the western half of Ontario County, including much of the city of Rochester.

More information on Dr. McIntosh is available at his profile on the University of Rochester Medical Center’s site at http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/22490087-scott-mcintosh

Media contact:

Thomas J. Morrisey
Communications Director
office: (585) 218-0034
e-mail: tjmorris@nysenate.gov