Jonathan Foulds, PhD
Director of the Tobacco Dependence Program
jonathan.foulds@umdnj.edu

Dr. Foulds is the Director of the Tobacco Dependence Program. He previously trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Scotland, and then did research and clinical work on tobacco dependence in London for over 10 years. He has been a consultant on tobacco dependence to the World Health Organization and the Hungarian Ministry of Health, and before coming to New Jersey was Director of Research for the smoking cessation charity Quit.

Jill Williams, MD
Addictions Psychiatrist
jill.williams@umdnj.edu

Jill Williams is a psychiatrist specializing in treatment of tobacco dependence and other addictions in mentally ill populations. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Williams is the recipient of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Career Development Award (K23), entitled, Nicotine DependenceTreatment in Psychiatric Comorbidity. Dr. Williams currently conducts research to study pharmacological and psychosocial treatments to help patients with schizophrenia quit smoking.
Dr Williams is also heading up a new program called CHOICES (Consumers Helping Others Improve their Condition by Ending Smoking). CHOICES is an innovative program targeting smokers with mental illness in New Jersey.
The project employs mental health peer counselors to communicate the important message to smokers with mental illness that addressing tobacco is important. The project is funded by a grant from the American Legacy Foundation and is a joint effort of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), the Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHANJ), and the State of New Jersey, Division of Mental Health Services. More information is available on the CHOICES website (www.njchoices.org)

Michael B. Steinberg, MD, MPH
Clinic Medical Director
michael.steinberg@umdnj.edu

Dr. Michael Steinberg is a general internist with dual appointments at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the School of Public Health. In addition to his medical degree, he has masters' level training in the field of public health education and behavioral science. His clinical and research interests include clinical preventive services and tobacco treatment in primary care and hospital settings. He has published and presented on several topics related to preventive medicine and tobacco issues. Prior to coming to UMDNJ, Dr. Steinberg was on faculty at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. At Jefferson, he was Director of Educational Programs and Services at the Comprehensive Center for Tobacco Research and Treatment, where he participated in both clinical and research activities

Donna Richardson, MSW, LCSW, LCADC, CTTS
Tobacco Dependence Clinic Coordinator
donna.richardson@umdnj.edu

Donna Richardson is the Clinic Coordinator for the Tobacco Dependence Clinic. She is also an Instructor at UMDNJ, School of Public Health. She has more than 30 years experience working with people to change behaviors that no longer work well for them. She has done this work in corrections settings, in child welfare settings, in community mental health/behavioral health settings, in hospital settings, with inpatients and outpatients, and in private practice. She maintains licenses to practice both clinical social work and alcohol and drug counseling in the State of New Jersey. She is also certified as a tobacco treatment specialist. An enthusiastic consumer of high quality continuing education, she has extensive post graduate training in family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. She maintains medical staff privileges at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. With the prolific staff at the Tobacco Dependence Program, she is co-author of numerous journal articles. Most importantly, everyday she sees someone quit tobacco use and that makes her very happy.

Nancy Speelman Edwards, CSW, CADC, CMS
Training and Education Coordinator
nancy.speelman@umdnj.edu

Nancy has been working in the addictions and mental health field since 1983. She is a Certified Social Worker, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified MICA Specialist and a Support Broker for the Division of Developmental Disabilities in New Jersey. Nancy works closely with other Tobacco Dependence Program professionals in developing intensive and basic training programs, educational materials and our annual conference.

Jose A. Cruz, MSW, LSW
Clinician & Community Outreach Coordinator
cruzj3@umdnj.edu

Jose A. Cruz received his BA from Cornell University in 1999 and is an MSW, LSW candidate for Fall 2007 from Rutgers University School of Social Work. He is working with the Proyecto Vida: Latino Deje de Fumar initiative which is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to provide culturally competent tobacco cessation services to the Latino community in New Jersey. Coming from a family where going to college is considered a luxury, he found working extensively in Residence Life at Cornell University and Rutgers University to be a privilege. In that capacity, he was able to share with students from various cultures and countries how wonderful and life-changing the college experience can be. After college, Jose continued to help others through his work as a Health Educator/Outreach Worker in Manhattan, NY where he focused on culturally diverse populations dealing with issues such as HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and
immigration issues.

Heather M. Jordan, MPH, CHES, CTTS
Program Development Specialist & Clinic Coordinator
jordanhm@umdnj.edu

The Tobacco Dependence Program welcomes new staff member, Heather Jordan, into the roles of Program Development Specialist and Clinic Coordinator of the newly created Newark Tobacco Dependence Clinic. 

Heather came to UMDNJ-SPH from The George Washington University in Washington, DC where she was a Department Finance Manager and Administrator in the School of Public Health and Health Services.  Prior to her job at GWU-SPHHS, she worked as a Project Coordinator for the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area. 

She obtained a BS, with honors, in her fields of specialization (Marketing/Health Planning and Management) from Alfred University in 2000.  In 2004, Heather obtained an MPH with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from GWU-SPHHS, was inducted into Delta Omega, the Public Health Honor Society, and became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).  She completed the Tobacco Dependence Treatment Specialist training in September, 2006 and became a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist in March, 2008.  Heather delivers a lecture on Stage of Change and the 5A’s in the Health Beliefs and Behaviors course and facilitates the Tobacco Cessation Methods Clinical Skills Examination at the New Jersey Medical School.  She is currently a doctoral student in the Health Education and Behavioral Science Program at UMDNJ-SPH

Adejoke A. Ojo, MSW, LSW
Clinician
adejoke.ojo@dcf.state.nj.us

Lisa Underwood
Administrative Coordinator
lisa.underwoodi@umdnj.edu

Lisa provides general administrative and management support within the Tobacco Dependence Program. Coordinates office operations and serves as liaison with various units and administrative offices throughout the University. Through her interest in outreach, she has staffed health fairs and community events representing the Tobacco Dependence Clinic. Prior to the TDP, she implemented and facilitated a women's self-help support group called WIN (Women In Need) where she developed a needs assessment survey and organized workshops for the group by planning presentations by professional women and organizations.

Michelle joined TDP in November 2006 as a part-time Research Assistant and took a full-time position in November 2007. Although born and raised a ‘Jersey Girl’, Michelle attended college at University of Maryland, where she earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences, specializing in physiology and neurobiology, and a minor degree in Community Health in 2005. She returned to New Jersey and received her Master of Public Health degree, with concentration in Epidemiology, in May 2007 from UMDNJ-School of Public Health, at which time she was inducted into Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Proficient in SAS, SPSS, Access, and Excel, Michelle embraces her role as the Program ‘data geek.’ She currently contributes to several ongoing research projects, assists with poster and presentation development, builds and maintains databases, compiles monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to the CTCP, and is responsible for the annual Clinic report and the semi-annual Program newsletter. Michelle is excited to contribute to the many TDP activities and aspires to one day earn her PhD in Epidemiology.

Amy Schmelzer received her bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology from Rutgers University—Rutgers College. Currently, she is obtaining two Master’s degrees from UMDNJ. She will graduate from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in May 2008 with a MS in Biomedical Sciences and will graduate from the School of Public Health the following year with a Masters in Public Health, concentrating in Health Education and Behavioral Science. Amy works closely with Dr. Michael Steinberg, MD, MPH on inpatient and outpatient smoking cessation trials and assists the Training and Education Department in the planning of the Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist training. After completing her graduate coursework, Amy is interested in attending medical school and will utilize the knowledge gained during her time at the Tobacco Dependence Program to encourage cessation in smoking patients.

Claribel Beltrez
Administrative Assistant
beltrecl@umdnj.edu

Claribel is the Administrative Assistant for the Tobacco Dependence Clinic/Program. She is a Certified Software Application Specialist, bringing many advanced computer related skills to the program. Claribel’s ability to speak fluent Spanish provides bilingual services to patients, as well as enables the department to easily translate materials for this special population.