Quitlines and Behavioral Health: The Hidden Resource

Linda Bailey, JD, MHS, is founder and CEO of the North American Quitline Consortium. The Consortium is a membership organization that aims to maximize the access, use and effectiveness of quitlines in the U.S. and Canada.

Linda has a notable career in public health as an attorney, educator, and epidemiologist and a strong professional interest in influencing the development of science-based policies that promote health. Her past positions have included director, Center for Tobacco Cessation at the American Cancer Society, associate director for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health in Washington, D.C. (US DHHS), senior advisor on health promotion and disease prevention at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (US DHHS), study director at the Institute of Medicine, and epidemiologist at the Houston Health Department. She was also a faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the University of Maryland School of Law. Linda holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Etta Short is a Public Health professional with over 25 years of experience managing behavior change and health promotion programs in clinical, government, non-profit and corporate settings. Etta joined Optum (Quit for Life Program) in 2005 to establish a Quit Coaching training program. She has been in her current role, Director of Clinical Development and Support since 2013. In this role, Etta provides oversight, expertise and leadership for the development of behavior change aspects of Quit for Life live and digital coaching programs.

Ms. Short published articles on cultural competency in the health care settings and co-authored three training manuals for the World Health Organization (WHO), including “Training for Quit line Tobacco Treatment Specialist: Telephone Counseling.” She provided consulting services for WHO delivering Tobacco Cessation Counselor training in China, UAE and Turkey.

Ms. Short earned a BA in English Literature from University of California at Los Angeles, an MS in Health Education from the University of Washington and she is a graduate of the Northwest Public Health Leadership Institute.

Robert Vargas-Belcher has 15+ years in the field of commercial tobacco treatment. Currently he is the Director of Clinical Development and Support for the Optum Quit for Life’s program that provide treatment support for 26 states Quitlines. He provides daily clinical support to staff and supports the development of new tailored programing in priority populations. Robert obtained his Masters in Social Work from University of Washington and his Masters in Public Health from San Diego State University.