2003 Tobacco Free Nurses: Leadership and Advocacy Project

Tobacco Free Nurses Initiative logo banner
The Tobacco Free Nurses: Leadership and Advocacy Project was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in partnership with the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center:  

RWJF Grant ID: #3341SC (subaward of RWJF Grant ID #047139):

Combined Goals: To ensure that the nursing profession is prepared to actively promote health by decreasing the threat of tobacco use. The primary aims were to 1) support and assist smoking cessation efforts of nursing professionals and nursing students; 2) enhance the culture of nurses as advocates of a smokefree society; 3) provide tobacco control resources for use in patient care to assist in cessation efforts

Our partners on this project included the American Association of Colleges of NursingAmerican Nurses Foundation/American Nurses Association, the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations and the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses, American Organization of Nurse Executives 


The goals of the Tobacco Free Nurses initiative and the Tobacco Free Nurses Leadership and Advocacy project were to:

  1. Support and assist smoking cessation efforts of nurses and nursing students
  2. Enhance the culture of nurses as leaders and advocates of a smokefree society
  3. Provide tobacco control resources for use in patient care to assist with cessation efforts

Meet the Tobacco Free Nurses Initiative Leadership and Avocacy Team

Tobacco Free Nurses Initiative Leadership

Pictured from left to right:

  • Linda Sarna, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Erika Froelicher, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco
  • Mary Ellen Wewers, RN, PhD, School of Public Health, The Ohio State University
  • Stella Aguinaga Bialous, RN, DrPH, Tobacco Policy International, San Francisco

Not pictured:

  • Marjorie Wells, PhD, RN, FNP, School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Lisa Wei Chang, MPH, School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles

Also see the biosketches of the original (2002-2005) TFNI team from the TFNI website archive

Please meet our Featured Nurse Leaders Archive:


 Tobacco Free Nurses Nursing Leadership Summit

TFN-LA Leadership Summit photo

The first-ever summit of nursing organizations focusing on tobacco control occurred on March 25-26, 2004 at the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 


Highlights of our major accomplishments

Partnering Organization: Smoking Cessation Leadership Center, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Nurses Foundation/American Nurses Association, the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations and the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses