NEWS RELEASE
TO:Eastern U.P. Media Network
FROM:Julie K.O. Trotter, Tobacco-Free Projects Coordinator
ChippewaCounty Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Coordinator
SUBJECT:Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive Set To Visit Sault Ste. Marie on February 5th
CONTACT:Julie K.O. Trotter, 635-3636
DATE:January 23, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dr. Greg Holzman, Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, is scheduled to visit Sault Ste. Marie on February 5, 2008. He is touring northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula to provide information about tobacco use and dependence and the resources available to help people quit.
Chippewa County Health Department, WarMemorialHospital and Sault Tribe Community Health will host free presentations on Tuesday, February 5, in Sault Ste. Marie about the impact of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, tobacco cessation and the importance of smoke-free policy in helping people quit as well as preventing people from starting.
Dr. Holzman’s first presentation, titled WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY: Effective Strategies to Reduce and Prevent Tobacco-Related Health Problems, will be held at the SaultTribeHealthCenter at 2864 Ashmun Street from 10:00 – 11:00AM. There is no charge for this presentation and it is open to the public.
Dr. Holzman will also present TREATING SMOKING DEPENDENCE: A SERIOUS DISEASE THAT IS KILLING MICHIGAN RESIDENTS from noon until 1:00pm at War Memorial Hospital Library (CME presentation for Doctors, Nurses, Healthcare Providers). This presentation is set up for health care providers and discusses the impact of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in Michigan and the methods available to providers to help their patients quit. It is an excellent opportunity for area physicians and other health care providers to improve their skills in assisting their patients in quitting tobacco use and to stay informed of the latest tobacco cessation treatments available.
Dr. Holzman will also be interviewed on the Radio Soo 1230AM Perspectives radio talk show, which will air on Thursday, February 7th at 8:35AM.
“We’re very pleased that Dr. Holzman is able to visit our community and talk about the impact of tobacco use and secondhand smoke, which are main causes of preventable death in Michigan. This is a great opportunity for ChippewaCounty residents to learn more about a very important health issue,” stated Julie Trotter, Tobacco-free Projects Coordinator for the Chippewa County Health Department.
In addition to these events, on Friday February 8th from noon-1:00PM, Dr. Holzman will also be presenting “Treating Smoking Dependence: A Serious Disease that is Killing Michigan Residents” at MarquetteGeneralHospital. Local health care providers can access this presentation through video-conference at WarMemorialHospital.
Dr. Holzman joined the State of Michigan as Chief Medical Officer in September 2006. He is a Michigan native who grew up in Okemos. Dr. Holzman received his undergraduate degree from MichiganStateUniversity and graduated from the University of Florida College of Medicine. He is board certified in both Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine.
For more information about Dr. Holzman’s presentations, tobacco cessation and the benefits of smoke-free air, contact the Chippewa County Health Department at 635-3636, Sault Tribe Community Health at 635-8844 or WarMemorialHospital at 635-4352. For free help in quitting smoking, call the Michigan Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-480-7848.