Assessment and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in Cancer Care 2025

It is well-established that smoking is the leading cause of many types of cancer. In addition, persistent smoking among cancer patients is associated with adverse short and long-term clinical outcomes including increased risk for treatment complications, poor health related quality of life, disease recurrence, second primary cancers, disease progression, and mortality. Despite these clinical risks, there are clear research-to-practice gaps and lack of training is routinely identified as a barrier to improving quality of tobacco treatment in oncology care. This training will prepare learners to provide safe and effective evidence-based treatment for tobacco dependence for the cancer patients/survivors and their family members.

Virtual Format

This innovative program includes a live 2-day, skills-based workshop to be held virtually from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, followed by 6 monthly (60 minute) collaboratory videoconference calls providing additional opportunities for implementation mentorship and coaching. This course is comprised of lectures, simulated role plays and interactive audience participation encouraging the intellectual exchange of ideas between faculty and participants.

This program will be delivered using Zoom. We encourage all attendees to download the latest version of the Zoom app prior to the start of the program (zoom.us/download). Additional access details will be emailed to those accepted to the program before the course.

Who Should Attend

This program is for Oncologists, Tobacco Treatment Specialists, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Social Workers, and Respiratory Therapists.

1. Gain a better understanding of the risks of persistent smoking and benefits of quitting for cancer patients and survivors
2. Apply evidence-based pharmacotherapy and cessation counseling interventions
3. Attendees will have an opportunity to practice tobacco use assessment and treatment planning skills during simulated patient (role play) exercises
4. Execute system-level recommendations for implementing tobacco use assessment and treatment in routine cancer care

Registration for this training program is complimentary.

Please complete an application, which can be accessed by selecting the 'Register' button above. Once your application is reviewed and you are accepted, you will receive a confirmation email from Noshin Haque ([email protected]), Research Project Associate, with further instructions regarding the Tobacco Treatment Training in Oncology workshops.

MSK staff will be placed on a waitlist and notified in advance of the course if you have been accepted into this session. 

Please note that by completing an application for this program, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the MSK CME Program Terms of Use.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

• AMA Credit Designation Statement

  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 22.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  
  

• Continuing Education for Licensed Psychologists in New York State*

  This event offers 16.50 NYS Psychology Contact Hours.

  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is recognized by the New York State Education Department State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0166.

  
  

• ANCC CNE Statement*

  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

  
  16.50 contact hours will be awarded to participants who attend the program in its entirety and complete a program evaluation. Partial credit not awarded.

  
  

• Social Work*

  2 Day Training: This presentation is approved for a maximum of 16.50 Continuing Education Contact Hours of Live Training. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0228.

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 *Not all states accept New York State CEUs. Please check with the licensing board in your state for guidance on their acceptance of the credit types offered for this course.

*Nursing contact hours, Psychology contact hours, and Social Work contact hours are available for the two-day program only and not for the six follow-up Collaboratory Calls. AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ will be offered for participation in the six follow-up Collaboratory Calls.

MSK Course Faculty

Jamie Ostroff, PhD
Chief, Behavioral Sciences Service
Director, Tobacco Treatment Program

Maureen O’Brien, CNS, CTTS-M
Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Chris Kotsen, PsyD
Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Gleneara Elizabeth Bates-Pappas

Course Faculty

C. Will Whitlock, NP, CTTS
Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies (commercial interests). All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.