May 26, 2026
The University of Kansas Medical Center’s Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program has once again earned national recognition, securing re-accreditation from the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs through February 2031.
Led by Babalola Faseru, MBChB, MPH, professor and member of The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control research program, the training program has steadily expanded its reach since first launching in 2016. To date, it has trained 587 Tobacco Treatment Specialists, including 552 across Kansas (representing 61 counties) along with participants from Missouri, Indiana, Nebraska and Texas. These specialists serve in a range of clinical and community settings, helping individuals access evidence-based support to quit tobacco.
“This re-accreditation affirms the quality and impact of our training program and the dedication of the many partners who have helped sustain and grow this work,” said Dr. Faseru. “Our goal is to continue building a workforce equipped to deliver effective tobacco treatment services wherever they are needed, in Kansas and beyond.”
Dr. Faseru added that the continued success of the Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program has been made possible through strong partnerships with organizations including the Kansas Health Foundation, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Health Promotion, KDHE Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, Shawnee Mission School District, Masonic Cancer Alliance and the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation.