WVU Healthcare, Health Sciences recognized for going tobacco free

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Wellness Council of West Virginia recognized West Virginia University’s Health Sciences Campus as a “Tobacco Free Champion” at the 24th Mid-Atlantic Conference on Worksite Wellness, which was held Oct. 21 and 22 at The Resort at Glade Springs.

The “Tobacco Free Champion” award is presented annually to companies in the state that have made great strides in creating, implementing or enforcing tobacco-free policies. The HSC campus received the award for establishing tobacco-free policies for the WVU Healthcare properties and the Health Sciences Center.

“We are honored to be recognized for efforts we feel were vital to protecting the health of our patients, visitors and staff,” Bruce McClymonds, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals said. “I am very proud of the cooperation and collaboration that have made this initiative a success.”

Christopher Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., chancellor for health sciences, said, “As the state’s leading institution for health, it was our obligation to set an example for others and serve as a model for positive health behavior. It was definitely a change worth making.”

WVU Healthcare officially went tobacco free on Nov. 19, 2009. The WVU Board of Governors approved a tobacco-free policy for the Health Sciences Center on June 4, 2010.