The American Academy of Family Physicians will nominate Ohio Academy of Family Physicians President Tom Houston, MD, for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Interagency Committee on Smoking and Health (ICSH).
The ICSH consists of five members appointed by the HHS secretary from physicians and scientists who represent private entities involved in informing the public about the health effects of smoking. The committee provides advice and guidance to the HHS secretary and the CDC director regarding (a) coordination of all research and education programs and other activities within the department and with other federal, state, local, and private agencies and (b) establishment and maintenance of liaison with appropriate private entities, federal agencies, and state and local public health agencies with respect to smoking and health activities.
The scope of Dr. Houston’s 35-year career in public health and family medicine makes him uniquely prepared and eminently qualified to serve on the ICSH. Dr. Houston served on and chaired the AAFP Commission on Health of the Public and Science. He served as director of science and public health advocacy for the American Medical Association in Chicago. He directed Louisiana’s statewide tobacco control agency serving as the Jim Finks endowed chair in health promotion at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and professor of public health and family medicine. In addition, Dr. Houston served as director of the Ohio Health Nicotine Dependence Program at McConnell Heart Center in Columbus, OH. He also chaired the board of The Breathing Association (a non-profit health care agency).
Congratulations, Dr. Houston!