Scott H. Frank. M.D., MS – Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Public Health Program at Case Western Reserve University

Dear Colleagues:

On November 23, the Faculty Senate voted to make CWRU a tobacco-free campus, including a ban on “e-cigarettes.” In response, on December 1 the Undergraduate Student Government passed a resolution opposing the vote, and calling for a student voice in the decision. Critics especially emphasized that, as Professor of Law Jonathan Adler wrote to The Observer, the health risks of e-cigarettes have not been established and appear to be far less than those of traditional tobacco products. “A leading research university,” Adler wrote, should not adopt such a policy without stronger “scientific evidence of harm.”

What, then, is the evidence? Some see e-cigarettes as a means to quit smoking, and some as a gateway to smoking. Some emphasize that they include no tobacco, and others argue they include other carcinogens such as formaldehyde. Some say nicotine itself can cause artherosclerosis, and some say that’s unproven. Join us as Dr. Frank shares his view of the evidence and the policy choices.

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies
 

About Our Guest

Dr. Scott Frank is the founding Director of the Master of Public Health Program at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU SOM), with appointments in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Family Medicine. He is also on the affiliated faculty for the Shubert Center for Child Studies and for the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods. In addition to his academic role, Dr. Frank serves as the Director of Health for the City of Shaker Heights.

Dr. Frank is involved in a broad variety of research, including topics such as behavior change, tobacco prevention and control, substance abuse prevention, clinical assessment of stress, adolescent health risk, and the role of spirituality and religion in health. He maintains an active Family Practice and is an award winning teacher of residents, medical and public health students. Dr. Frank is currently the curriculum leader for the innovative population health block in the CWRU SOM. He serves as Principal Investigator on a RWJ Public Health Practice Based Research Network Grant.

Where We Meet

The Friday Public Affairs Lunch convenes each Friday when classes are in session, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Our programs are open to all and no registration is required. We usually meet in the Dampeer Room of Kelvin Smith Library. The Dampeer Room is on the second floor of the library. If you get off the elevators, turn right, pass the first bank of tables, and turn right again. Occasionally we need to use a different room; that will always be announced in the weekly e-mails.

Parking Possibilities

The most convenient parking is the lot underneath Severance Hall. We regret that it is not free. From that lot there is an elevator up to street level (labeled as for the Thwing Center); it is less than 50 yards from that exit to the library entrance. You can get from the Severance garage to the library without going outside. Near the entry gates – just to the right if you were driving out – there is a door into a corridor. Walk down the corridor and there will be another door. Beyond that door you’ll find the entrance to an elevator which goes up to an entrance right inside the doors to Kelvin Smith Library.

Schedule of Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

March 25: Hosting the Super B**l of Politics. With Brittany Williams, Senior Project Manager, Cleveland 2016 Host Committee.

April 1: Germany, Asylum and the Future of Europe. With Kenneth F. Ledford, Associate Professor of History and Law and Chair, Department of History at Case Western Reserve University.

April 8: Citizenship in a Divided America. With Mary Romero, Professor of Justice Studies and Social Inquiry, Arizona State University. Cosponsored by Academic Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES) program. Room to be determined.

April 15: Money, Happiness, and Redistribution. With David Clingingsmith, Associate Professor of Economics. ***Alternate Location: Baker-Nord Center, Room 206, Clark Hall***

April 22: The Obama Administration and the Future of U.S. Manufacturing. With Susan Helper, Frank Tracy Carlton Professor of Economics and, former Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Commerce.