Category: News Stories

Piasecki Named Fellow of the American Psychological Association

UW-CTRI Researcher Dr. Thomas Piasecki has been named as a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (affiliated with Division 50, Society of Addiction Psychology). He is also a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the recipient of research awards from the American Psychological Association, the Society for Nicotine and Tobacco Research, and the …

Study: Offering Incentives to Pregnant Medicaid Members Works

What if the state of Wisconsin could help pregnant women quit smoking, help babies grow up smoke-free, and it would pay for itself? Researchers from UW-CTRI and First Breath discovered that paying pregnant Medicaid members to engage in help to quit smoking not only worked, but the costs to Medicaid would likely be recovered. Maternal …

UW-CTRI Thanks Amy Conlon

Amy Conlon has moved on from UW-CTRI to pursue a career as a Population Health Manager for Exact Sciences, implementing initiatives to increase colorectal cancer screenings with health systems and insurers. Amy has a true passion for public health, cancer control and colorectal screening and is excited for this opportunity. The new Director of Research …

Conner Takes Reins from Christiansen to Address Behavioral Health and Tobacco Use

UW-CTRI Associate Researcher Karen Conner is managing the Wisconsin Nicotine Treatment Integration Project (WiNTiP), which works to help behavioral health patients quit using tobacco. She has taken over for UW-CTRI Distinguished Researcher Dr. Bruce Christiansen, who is retiring. Bruce has served at UW-CTRI for 15 years. His work empowered communities who are most vulnerable to …

Drs. Slutske and Piasecki Join UW-CTRI

Drs. Tom Piasecki and Wendy Slutske have joined UW-CTRI as professors and senior scientists. “They are each accomplished researchers with impressive track records of addiction research, statistical expertise, mentoring, and team science,” said UW-CTRI Director Dr. Michael Fiore. “We are elated to have them on our team. They will substantially boost our Center’s scientific firepower …

Have you Heard that Podcast? 

UW-CTRI researchers recently guest-starred on separate presentations: UW-CTRI Associate Director of Research Dr. Danielle McCarthy was a guest on the podcast Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) with host Dr. Narjust Duma and fellow guest Dr. Erica Warner of Harvard Medical School. They discussed tobacco cessation as a modifiable risk factor and how clinicians can respectfully engage …

Pandemic: Appreciating Colleagues Who Worked In-Person

While all UW-CTRI employees are now back working in their offices in person, some colleagues have been doing so throughout much of the pandemic, even before vaccines were available. “I want to say on behalf of the Center and our patients, a heartfelt thank you to all of our staff who worked in the office …

Opt-Out Strategy Helps More Inpatients Get Treatment

There are more ways to quit smoking, more resources to help people quit smoking, than ever, but people aren’t always given the chance to take advantage of these opportunities. A study published in Hospital Pharmacy examines those missed opportunities in the place they should be easiest to get—the hospital—and asks how we can change the way …

CBS Milwaukee Discusses Youth Vaping with Dr. Piper

As the state mulls a bill to make the legal age 21 to buy tobacco, matching the federal law for purposes of enforcement, CBS 58 in Milwaukee discussed youth vaping with UW-CTRI Associate Director of Research Dr. Megan Piper.

Dr. Doug Jorenby Discusses Vaping on Wisconsin Public Radio

As the FDA mulls whether to approve various vaping products, Wisconsin Public Radio invited UW-CTRI Director of Clinical Services Dr. Doug Jorenby to be a guest on its program “Central Time.”