Addressing Barriers to Delivering Tobacco Dependence Interventions Across Mental Health Care Settings

Dr. Susan Blaakman is Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing and Director of the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. She is a nationally certified advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurse with many years of clinical, education and research experience. Susan works as a clinical interventionist to help reduce tobacco smoke exposure for urban children with asthma. Along with Daryl Sharp, Susan also co-chairs the American Psychiatric Nurses Tobacco Dependence Council, which has partnered with the SCLC to implement a national strategic plan to support psychiatric nurses’ interventions with their patients who smoke.

Dr. Daryl Sharp is Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. She also holds an appointment as Professor of Clinical Nursing and in the Center for Community Health where she serves as Director of Quality and Education in the Healthy Living Center. A nationally certified advanced practice psychiatric nurse and founding director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, Dr. Sharp served as project director for the University of Rochester School of Nursing Tobacco Dependence Intervention Program, which provided tobacco dependence interventions for those challenged by serious mental illness. She currently co-chairs the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Tobacco Dependence Council, which has worked closely with the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center to implement and evaluate a national strategic plan designed to increase the delivery of tobacco dependence interventions by psychiatric nurses nationwide.