Addressing Smoking Among Cancer Survivors: Challenges and Opportunities

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By the AUA School of Public Health

YEREVAN, Armenia – On December 12, 2013, the American University of Armenia (AUA) School of Public Health (AUA SPH) held a public seminar entitled “Addressing Smoking Among Cancer Survivors: Challenges and Opportunities” as part of its public health seminar series.

Dr. Carla J. Berg talked about the consequences of continued smoking on cancer treatment and survival, as well as about successful interventions developed. She examined the risk factors of continued smoking among cancer survivors, with a specific focus on individual factors (e.g., depression) and healthcare system factors (e.g., healthcare provider’s advice to quit).

She discussed cancer survivors’ interest in harm-reduction efforts, as well as their interest in cessation and cessation resources. She also highlighted possible research approaches for the future and the implications for clinicians, specifically interventions addressing the underlying mechanisms that fuel continued tobacco use among cancer survivors and the challenges of conducting research involving smoking among these survivors.

Dr. Berg is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education of the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, in Atlanta, GA, USA and the Cancer Control and Population Sciences of the Emory Winship Cancer Center. Her scientific work has been recognized by numerous fellowships, honors, and awards, including the National Institute of Health Scholarships, the B. Kent Houston Award in Health Psychology, Randall Scholar, and many others.  She has authored over 80 scientific articles on innovative studies on Cancer Survivorship, Gene-Environment Interactions Influencing Smoking Initiation, Progression, and Potential Cessation among College Students and other population groups. Dr. Berg is currently a Fulbright Scholar at the Tbilisi State Medical University International School of Public Health in Tbilisi, Georgia. Dr. Berg received her PhD in clinical health psychology from the University of Kansas, completed her residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in behavioral medicine, and then completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Medicine.

Dr. Carla J. Berg speaks about the consequences of continued tobacco use at the AUA SPH seminar entitled, “Addressing Smoking Among Cancer Survivors: Challenges and Opportunities.”

The presentation was followed by an active Q&A session.

The AUA School of Public Health works actively to improve the health of the populace and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of public health professionals and others to be leaders in public health, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.