Duke-UNC Comprehensive Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program (Spring 2026)

Dr. James Davis is a practicing physician of Internal Medicine, and serves as the Medical Director for Duke Center for Smoking Cessation, Director of the Duke Smoking Cessation Program and Co-Director of the Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program. His research focuses on development of new pharmaceutical treatments for smoking cessation. He is principal investigator on several trials including a study on “adaptive” smoking cessation and several trials on new medications for smoking cessation. The new medications leverage more novel neurobiological mechanisms - NMDA receptor antagonism, nicotinic receptor antagonism, which impact addiction-based learning and cue response. Additionally, Dr. Davis serves as co-investigator on trials on lung cancer screening, e-cigarettes, minor nicotine alkaloids, imaging trials, lung function trials and others. Dr. Davis leads the Duke Smoke-Free Policy Initiative, is co-author on a national tobacco dependence treatment guideline, and provides training in tobacco dependence treatment for the Duke School of Medicine, Duke Internal Medicine, Family Practice and Psychiatry residency programs.

Sally Herndon, MPH has been a leader in NC public health’s efforts in tobacco prevention and control since 1991. Responsibilities include management of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch and coordination of evidence based tobacco prevention and control in North Carolina. She helped build support for the 2010 law that makes all N.C. restaurants and bars smoke-free and worked with state and local partners to successfully implement the new law. Sally is Past Chair of the national Tobacco Control Network, 2011-2013. She worked in health promotion/disease prevention in Maine (1980-86). Her education and training include a BA in Psychology and Physiology from UNC Chapel Hill and an MPH from the Department of Health Behavior School of Public Health, University of North Carolina with a focus on policy and program planning. She was a Fellow, NC State University's Natural Resources Leadership Institute: Resolving Conflict through Leadership in 1997; and a Fellow in the Advocacy Institute Leadership Program, 1999. Her ongoing work involves working with state, regional and local partners to 1) reduce tobacco use by young people; 2) eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke; 3) help all tobacco users who want to quit; and 3) eliminate tobacco-attributable health disparities.

Susan received her Master in Social Work and Master of Science in Public Health from UNC – Chapel Hill in 2002. In 2010, Susan joined TTP where she initially was the Program Manager for the Inpatient to Outpatient (I2O) Program. Currently, Susan is the Associate Director for the Outpatient Tobacco Treatment Clinic at the Family Medicine Center, which falls under the auspices of the Nicotine Dependence Program. Her interests include: health education and counseling, public health social work, preventative health care, and evidence-based practices for healthy lifestyles.

Rachel Joyner is a family nurse practitioner with the Duke Smoking Cessation Program. She holds a National Certification in Nicotine and Tobacco Treatment and received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Florida. She loves working collaboratively with patients to help them become tobacco free.

Eiman Newcomer graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2012 with a degree in Psychology and received her Master of Social Work degree from UNC in 2014. Eiman has worked in community mental health addressing mental health and substance abuse needs in adults. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. In 2017, Eiman joined TTP as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist where she is the Program Manager for the Inpatient Program. She is passionate about empowering others to make positive changes in their lives. Her interests include co-occurring disorders, health and wellness education, and evidence-based practices for substance use treatment.