Webinars

As the program manager for the Veteran Commercial Tobacco Cessation Program at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Paul is spearheading innovative efforts to expand access to evidence-based, standard of care, cessation treatment for the state's 500,000 plus veterans. With funding from the CDC's Community Disparities grant, Paul is working closely with the WA State Department of Health to address the unique health disparities facing Washington's diverse veteran population. By removing barriers to assessment and treatment, conducting targeted outreach, and training for providers, Paul is building a robust, statewide network of veteran-facing tobacco treatment specialists.  He is an active member of several state-level coalitions and work groups: Washington State Leadership Academy (UCSF, SCLC); Washington Breathes Coalition - Improving Cessation Treatment Work Group; Washington State Behavioral Health Work Group, and the Cancer Action Plan of Washington (CAPOW).  Paul is also Founder and Organizer of the WA State Veteran Commercial Tobacco Coalition.  Prior to his current role, Paul served as training coordinator for WDVA’s Veterans Training Support Center; career counselor at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; workshop facilitator (US Dept. of Labor) supporting transitioning service members with DoD Transition Assistance programs at all WA military installations, Hill Airforce Base, Utah, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI.  He was also a Middle-School Teacher (English, Social Studies) for 13 years. Paul holds an MA in education from Pacific Lutheran University and a BA in Music Therapy from California State University, Northridge.  He is a veteran of the US Navy, serving from 1989 to 1993, and additionally serves as a WDVA Vet Corps Program regional coordinator.

Dr. Dana Christofferson is the Deputy Director of the Tobacco Use Treatment National Program Office for the VA Health Care System. Dana is responsible for developing policy, managing national initiatives, including VA’s quitline and text message programs, and overseeing program evaluation efforts in the VA health care system to provide Veterans with high quality, evidence-based, tobacco use treatment.

Alex currently serves as the Director of Practice Improvement and Consulting for the National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco & Cancer Control as part of the parent organization the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Based in Houston, Texas, Alex leads a multifaceted array of initiatives focused on eliminating tobacco and cancer related disparities in the mental health population. His purview spans the facilitation of numerous Community of Practices, the strategic development of resources and webinars and the provision of comprehensive training and technical assistance to local, state, and national partners. Prior to his current role, Alex held a position at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he served as the Program Director of the EndTobacco® Program within the Department of Behavioral Science. During his 8 year tenure, he spearheaded transformative initiatives, including the Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program, Project ECHO TEACH, and the Eliminate Tobacco Use Initiative.