DFW Hospital Council (DFWHC) President/CEO W. Stephen Love and Abilene Christian University (ACU) Nursing Professor Dr. Tonya Sawyer-McGee hosted the “Hot Topic” webinar “Clinicians Role in Advocating Smoking Cessation” this morning at the DFWHC offices in Irving. The educational event was attended by more than 25 registrants representing hospitals across North Texas.

The webinar was introduced by Love, who also participated in the Q&A. Abilene Christian University (ACU) came aboard as a DFWHC Associate Member in 2017, offering a 10 percent discount to DFWHC members to online healthcare graduate programs operating out of the local ACU Dallas Campus.

For almost a decade, DFWHC has advocated for smoking bans in public venues throughout the metroplex. Dr. Sawyer-McGee, a former acute care nurse at Parkland Health & Hospital System, detailed how cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in the U.S.

“Healthcare providers can contribute significantly to the war against tobacco use since studies show patients advised to quit smoking are 1.6 times more likely end their habit,” said Dr. Sawyer-McGee. “The most effective preventive intervention a clinician can provide for tobacco-using patients is a personalized smoking cessation intervention program with extended assistance and follow-up.”

For information on the presentation, please contact Jourdan Pruit at jpruit@dfwhc.org or call 469-648-5116.