Making the Case: Framing for Tobacco-Free Behavioral Health Settings

Ryan Coffman, MPH, CHES, CTTS-M is the Tobacco Policy and Control Program Manager for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. In this role, he oversees several tobacco control and policy initiatives within the Division of Chronic Disease Prevention. These initiatives include the prevention of youth initiation, promoting tobacco-free environments, mass media campaigns, tobacco control policy, and tobacco treatment services. He is committed to serving vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted by the effects of tobacco use.

Previously, Ryan provided inpatient, outpatient, and community tobacco use disorder treatment in hospital, behavioral health, correctional, and substance use treatment settings. He acquired his Masters in Public Health (MPH) degree at Tulane University and has certifications in health education, tobacco use disorder treatment and global tobacco control. Ryan first became committed to tobacco control in 2003 while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya and continues to provide tobacco treatment services Health Center 2 in South Philadelphia.

Dr. Julie Sweetland is a sociolinguist and a senior advisor at the FrameWorks Institute, a think tank that equips mission-driven communicators to lead productive public conversations. FrameWorks’ unique approach to communications research shapes public discourse across the nation and around the world. Their impact was recognized in 2015 with the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, otherwise known as the “organizational genius grant.” Since joining FrameWorks in 2012, Dr. Sweetland has led strategic reframing initiatives on issues like climate change, health equity, and childhood adversity, and has helped leading advocates, policymakers, and scientists frame their issues in ways that drive change. Julie has played a key role in the Tobacco Disparities Messaging Project since its inception in 2017.