WVU’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program celebrates graduates with honor cords

The Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program (CTTTP) at West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, sponsored by the School of Dentistry and the Health Science's Office of Interprofessional Education, is recognizing a new class of graduates in a meaningful way this year. For the first time, WVU graduates will receive honor cords that symbolize their commitment to addressing tobacco use disorder and supporting recovery.

The Tobacco Treatment & Recovery Awareness Cord features three distinct colors, each representing a core aspect of the program’s mission. Light blue reflects the World Health Organization’s global campaign to raise awareness of the harms of tobacco use and promote smoke-free environments. Lavender signifies addiction recovery awareness. Old gold recognizes WVU’s integration of tobacco treatment specialist training across Health Sciences programs.

“These cords represent more than an individual achievement. They reflect the collaborative effort across Health Sciences to address one of West Virginia’s most pressing public health challenges,” Jennifer Momen, MD, MPH, director of the Physician Assistant Studies program, said. “For Physician Assistant Studies students, this training builds confidence in having meaningful conversations with patients about tobacco cessation and recovery.”

This year’s honorees include students from multiple institutions and disciplines, highlighting the program’s expanding reach. Alongside WVU Health Sciences Morgantown campus students, six nursing students from WVU’s Keyser and Beckley campuses earned certification, as did 19 dental hygiene students from BridgeValley Community and Technical College, which integrated the program into its curriculum in 2023.

Noelle Wonsettler, a Dental Hygiene student in the WVU School of Dentistry, decided to complete the program to be a resource for her patients and raise awareness of the risks of tobacco use, as West Virginia currently ranks first in tobacco use in the United States.

“This program is especially valuable because having these conversations with patients and coaching them through their tobacco use can be really difficult,” Wonsettler said. “I would recommend this program to all healthcare students because at some point or another, you are going to have this conversation with a patient. I think it’s important to have background knowledge on this information because going in blind can be really difficult.”

Sydney Allman, a Doctor of Dental Surgery student, said her interest in earning the certification grew through her dental school coursework as she learned more about the oral health effects of both smoked and smokeless tobacco use.

“The program really taught me how to become comfortable asking patients about their tobacco use,” Allman said. “Dental appointments are a good time to talk to a patient about their tobacco use, history and if they have any interest in quitting. At first, it was a little awkward to ask my patients about that, and if they’d be willing to let me help them quit. After going through the program and having more practice with those discussions, I feel much more confident.”

The WVU CTTTP is an online, self-paced course designed for professionals and students across a wide range of disciplines, including counseling, dentistry, nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant , public health, respiratory therapy, and social work. Participants complete four comprehensive modules featuring recorded lectures, interactive activities and self-assessments, totaling a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education.

Upon successful completion, participants earn Tobacco Treatment Specialist certification, equipping them with the skills to deliver evidence-based interventions to individuals toward sustainable tobacco-free lives. Graduates are trained to understand the science of addiction, develop individualized treatment plans, monitor patient progress and educate others about effective cessation strategies.

"For our graduates entering the pharmacy profession, their medication expertise and accessibility allow them to help patients navigate quitting smoking and make a real difference in their health," Mary Stamatakis, PharmD, senior associate dean fof Academic Affairs and Educational Innovation for the School of Pharmacy.

Since its launch in 2018, WVU’s program has distinguished itself as one of only 27 programs worldwide accredited by the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs. It is the first program of its kind developed within a school of dentistry and the first health science institution to integrate tobacco treatment specialist certification into curricula.

Tobacco Treatment Specialists serve in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community health centers, educational institutions, dental and medical practices, quit lines and behavioral health facilities. In addition to direct patient care, they play a key role in prevention and public education efforts.

“I am delighted that the WVU School of Dentistry’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program empowers our health science students with the Tobacco Treatment Specialist certification,” M. Suann Gaydos, MS, director of the Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program, said. “This ensures they enter the workforce confident, prepared, and ready to deliver evidence-based care from day one.”

For more information about the Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program, visit dentistry.wvu.edu/continuing-education/tobacco-treatment-training-program/.