Mary Ellen Wewers, PhD
Professor, Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Associate Dean for Research & Faculty Development
Mailing Address:
432 Cunz Hall
1841 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Phone: (614) 292-3137
Send me an email
Education:
B.S.N., Nursing, Saint Louis University, 1972
M.S., Nursing, University of Arkansas, 1980
Ph.D., Nursing, University of Maryland at Baltimore, 1986
M.P.H., Public Health, Harvard University, 1999
R.N. Licensure: OH, AR, MO
Background:
Dr. Wewers' research specialty is tobacco cessation with special interests in underserved populations. She has conducted tobacco-related research since the mid-1980s. She served as the only nurse scientist on both the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Expert Panels that developed Clinical Practice Tobacco Cessation Guidelines.
Positions and Honors:
National Advisory Committee, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Smoking Cessation Leadership Center, 2003-present
Panelist, USPHS Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline Update Expert Panel, 2006-present
Chairperson and Charter Member, Community Level Health Promotion Study Section, NIH, 2006-present
Administrator, Tobacco Cessation Programs, The Ohio State University Health System, 2006-present
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2006
Board Member, Columbus Public Health, 2007-present
Research:
A Comprehensive Program for the Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Lung Cancer
Tobacco Use and Cessation among Ohio Appalachian Women
Publications 2007:
Katz ML, Wewers ME, Single N, Paskett ED. (2007). Key informants’ perspectives prior to beginning a cervical cancer study in Ohio Appalachia. Qualitative Health Research. 17, 131-141.
Andrews J, Felton G, Wewers ME, Tingen M, Waller J. (2007). The effect of a multi-component smoking cessation intervention in African American women residing in public housing. Research in Nursing & Health. 30, 45-60.
Harwood, G.A., Salsberry, P., Ferketich, A.K., Wewers, M.E. (2007). Cigarette smoking, socioeconomic status, and psychosocial factors: Examining a conceptual framework. Public Health Nursing. 24, 361-371.
French GM, Groner JA, Wewers ME, Ahijevych K. (2007). Staying smoke free: An intervention to prevent postpartum relapse. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 9, 663-670.
Sarna L, Bialous SA, Wewers ME, Froelicher ES, Wells M, Balbach ED. (2007). Web log analysis of the first two years of the Tobacco Free Nurses website. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics. http://eaa-knowledge.com/ojni/ni/11_3/sarna.htm
Ferketich AF, Wee A, Shultz J, Wewers ME. (In Press). A measure of nicotine dependence for smokeless tobacco users. Addictive Behaviors.
Browning, KK, Ferketich, AK, Salsberry, PJ, Wewers, ME. (In Press). Socioeconomic disparity in provider delivered assistance to quit smoking. Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
Ferketich AK, Katz ML, Kauffman RM, Paskett ED, Lemeshow S, Westman JA, Clinton SK, Bloomfield CD, Wewers ME. (In Press). Tobacco use among the Amish in Holmes county, Ohio. Journal of Rural Health.
Ferketich AK, Wee AG, Shultz J, Wewers ME. (In Press). Smokeless tobacco use and salivary cotinine concentration. Addictive Behaviors.
Ferketich AK, Pirie P, Wewers ME, Hardikar S. (In Press). Women and tobacco harm reduction in Appalachia Ohio. Journal of Smoking Cessation.
Publications 2006:
Wewers ME, Sarna L, Rice V. (2006). Nursing research and treatment of tobacco dependence: State of the science, Nursing Research, 55 (4 Suppl) S11-15.
Wewers ME, Katz M, Fickle D, Paskett ED. (2006). Risky behaviors among Ohio Appalachian adults. Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy. [serial online] Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/oct/06_0032.htm.
Ferketich AF, Khan Y, Wewers ME. (2006). Are physicians asking about tobacco use and assisting with cessation? Results from the 2001-2004 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). Preventive Medicine. 43, 472-476.
Sarna L, Danao LL, Chan S, Shin SR, Baldago LA, Endo E, Minigishi H, Wewers ME. (2006). Tobacco control curricula content in baccalaureate nursing programs in four Asian nations. Nursing Outlook, 54, 334-344.
Peck R & Wewers ME. (2006). The cost-effectiveness of ASSIST. In National Cancer Institute. Evaluating ASSIST: A Blueprint for Understanding State-Level Tobacco Control. Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph No. 17. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, NIH Pub. No. 06-6058. pp. 305-324.
Ongoing Research Support:
NIH/NHLBI, Smoking cessation and the natural history of HIV-induced emphysema. This study will investigate the effect of smoking cessation on the course of HIV-associated emphysema from the symptomatic, physiologic and biologic perspective. Role: Co-Investigator
Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation, The Ohio State University Health Systems Tobacco Treatment Center. This center will implement tobacco cessation treatment and evaluate its efficacy among all tobacco users who receive clinical care within the health system. Role: Principal Investigator
NIDA/NIH, Menthol, Ethnicity and Nicotine Dependence, This study will investigate the role of tobacco additives, such as menthol, and nicotine dependence in the development of morbidity among African-American and white smokers. Role: Co-Investigator
Ohio Biomedical Research Technology Transfer Award, A Comprehensive Program for the Prevention, Detection, and Treatment of Lung Cancer. The major goals of this comprehensive partnership with The Ohio State University, Battelle Memorial Institute, Zivena, Inc. and Siemens Medical Solutions is to develop novel biomarkers, diagnostics and therapies (biological and behavioral) for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. Role: Co-Investigator; Principal Investigator for Smoking Cessation Behavioral Intervention Project
NCI/NIH, Center for Population Health and Health Disparities: Reducing Cervical Cancer in Ohio Appalachian Women, Core A: Administration. This Center will characterize environmental, social, biological and behavioral factors associated with the increased incidence and mortality rates from cervical disease among vulnerable populations of Ohio Appalachian women. Health disparities will be examined with regard to access, treatment and outcomes. Role: Co-Director and Co-Investigator
NCI/NIH, Tobacco Use and Cessation among Ohio Appalachian Women (Project 2). This study will characterize social, biological and behavioral factors associated with tobacco use and evaluate a clinic-based tobacco cessation intervention among Ohio Appalachian women at risk for cervical cancer. Role: Principal Investigator
NCI/NIH, OSU comprehensive cancer center support grant. To support the programs, services, research, and administration of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center. Role: Co-Program Director, Cancer Control Program
Completed Research Support:
NIDCR/NIH, Smokeless Tobacco Use and Cessation in Rural Appalachia. This study evaluated the feasibility of a nurse-managed lay-led tobacco cessation intervention and changes in oral health indicators in rural adult Appalachian smokeless tobacco users.
NIH/NIDCR, Nursed Managed Tobacco Cessation Intervention. This study evaluated the feasibility of a nurse-managed lay-led tobacco cessation intervention among rural adult Appalachian tobacco users.
Kudos:
Dr. Wewers has accepted an invitation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to serve as a member of the Community-Level Health Promotion Study Section, Center for Scientific Review.
