Medical Education

Division faculty members actively participate in teaching psychiatry residents, psychology interns, medical school students, our division research assistants, Rutgers work study students along with trainees from a variety of disciplines. Dr. Williams is also Visiting Professor at the Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies and an active member of the UMDNJ Student Assistance Campus Committee (SACC).

Our division offers a variety of CME/CE activities that were developed as the result of our decade of research, clinical practice and public health work in tobacco addiction and mental illness. Our lecturers are all experts in the field of tobacco cessation. We offer small classroom-style sessions, averaging 25-30 in attendance which maximizes the opportunity for participants to interact with the presenting faculty. To view our CE/CME activity calendar, please click here.

Activity Location: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 335 George Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901

Who Should Attend: These courses were designed for physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, social workers, LCADC, CTTS, peer specialists and other mental health professionals. The purpose of these activities is to educate mental health professionals to utilize a variety of evidence-based approaches to empower more smokers with mental illness to quit and choose a healthier lifestyle.

The division hosts a two day CME/CE activity entitled “Treating Tobacco Dependence in Mental Health Settings” in March and November. This CME activity targets psychiatric prescribers as the audience. We believe a 2-day live training has advantages over other educational approaches (example web-cast or written CME material) in changing prescriber practices in that this approach uses active learning with discussion groups and opportunities to ask questions and practice skills. For more information on our continuing education program, please visit the UMDNJ - CCOE website.

The division also presents a CME/CE activity entitled “Motivational Interviewing-Basics & Beyond". This workshop was developed in response to the overwhelming need by behavioral health practitioners who find it challenging to help their clients maintain the necessary motivation and self-efficacy to engage in various healthy behaviors (e.g., quit smoking, take medications as prescribed, eating right and exercising to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels).

Our new CME/CE activity entitled “Moving Forward with a Quality Improvement Model for Addressing Tobacco in Behavioral Health Settings” and consists of three separate activities. Participants will leave these activities with a game plan for their program. You will possess the comprehensive tool kit and knowledge necessary to take your personalized Quality Improvement Initiative (QI) from the drawing board to reality. In addition we will be there to guide you along the way. We will provide each participating agency/organization with two additional phone calls for technical support during the project year to assist them with planning and implementation of your new program or initiative. In addition, all will be invited to participate in group conference calls that review general implementation techniques and problem solving. We recommend 2-3 staff members and/or peer specialists per agency attend this CME/CE Activity, if possible, since a team approach will aid in implementation of your personalized Quality Improvement (QI) initiative. For more information, please click here.

Activity #1 Implementing a Wellness Curriculum on Tobacco to Engage Smokers with Mental Illness – April 7, 2011

Activity #2 Peers Helping Peers: Innovations in Tobacco Dependence Education & Intervention – June 6, 2011

Activity #3 - Policy Development and Strategies for Changing Health Systems to Incorporate Tobacco Treatments – October 14, 2011

Our unit is committed to helping organizations with preparation and implementation of smoke free policies, and is able to provide full or adapted versions of the two day training on site.

We are also able to provide ongoing consultation, technical assistance, and support for agencies wishing to integrate tobacco dependence treatment into their current settings. For more information about our training programs, please call 732-235-4053/