Joseph W. Cullen
Encyclopedia
Joseph W. Cullen was the director of the AMC Cancer Research Center, and Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute
.
where he developed his strong debate and speaking skills which he displayed throughout his professional career. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University
in 1968. He served on the faculty at the University of California at Los Angeles, and also worked at the Pavlovian Research Laboratory. Throughout his life, he was an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society
. He was the first Director of the Division of Cancer Control at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California at Los Angeles. In this position, he became a leader nationally and internationally in focusing attention among the cancer prevention and control community on the importance of what would make the biggest differences in preventing cancer. Through his work with the International Union Against Cancer
(UICC), he developed a strong international network of colleagues who were confronting the tobacco problem worldwide, including Nigel Gray (Australia), head of the UICC Tobacco Program from 1974–1990, and Richard Doll
(UK), Richard Peto
(UK), Sir John Crofton (UK), Keith Ball (UK), Takeshi Hirayama (Japan), Dimitrios Trichopoulos (Greece), Judith Mackay
of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Kjell Bjartveit
(Norway), D. David Simpson of UK's Action on Smoking and Health
, Allan C. Erickson of the American Cancer Society
and Michael Pertschuk
(USA).
From 1982 - 1989 Cullen served as Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. Together with Dr. Peter Greenwald, the Director for the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, he established a new scientific approach to cancer control based upon a five-phase decision-making model: (1) hypothesis development, (2) method development, (3) controlled intervention trials, (4) defined population studies, and (5) demonstration and implementation studies. A major component of how this model was put into action at NCI was the new Smoking Tobacco and Cancer Program (STCP) which Cullen created in 1982. During his tenure at NCI, he was a vocal advocate for increasing program funding to develop and test intervention strategies to reduce tobacco use and then to apply the best strategies in large target populations. By 1989, the STCP included 55 smoking prevention and cessation trials, affecting 25 states and active in over 200 North American cities. One of the major achievements of the STCP was the establishment of the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study for Cancer Prevention, widely known as ASSIST, which represented a major shift in federal funding for tobacco control from a primary focus on individuals to include a focus on the community and social environment. Based upon the leadership of Cullen within NCI and Dr. Harmon J. Eyre, representing the American Cancer Society
(ACS), and their presentations before the NCI's Board of Scientific Counselors, ASSIST was approved for funding in 1989 and launched in 1991 through a collaborative public/private partnership between NCI and the ACS. ASSIST funded 17 state health departments to conduct the first comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs on a state-wide basis. This seven-year demonstration project served as a model for national tobacco control efforts and led to the current National Tobacco Control Program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
, Office on Smoking and Health, which continues to fund state health departments in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. During the 1980s, Cullen developed a close working relationship with the Surgeon General C. Everett Koop
. Cullen became a key technical consultant to Dr. Koop as he developed into an international leader in tobacco control. In part from the influence of Cullen, Dr. Koop issued a challenge to Americans in 1984 to "create a smoke-free society in the United States by the year 2000." In 1987, Cullen was awarded the Surgeon General's Medallion, the third highest award given by the Office of the Surgeon General for actions of exceptional achievement to the cause of public health and medicine.
In July 1989, Cullen became Director of the AMC Cancer Research Center in Denver, Colorado. He also was a Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was working in his office at the AMC Cancer Research Center until days before he died suddenly in San Francisco on November 24, 1990 of a malignant brain tumor diagnosed only days before while visiting his daughter in Berkeley, California. He was survived by his wife, Katherine; a son, Neal; his daughter, Jennifer.
In 1992, the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) created the Joseph W. Cullen Memorial Award to memorialize his unparalleled contributions to national tobacco control. The award recognizes distinguished achievement in continued national tobacco control efforts through research, the development of prevention and cessation programs with wide-ranging public health impact, and public policy and advocacy initiatives. The first award was presented by ASPO in 1992 to Dr. Ellen Gritz, who was mentored by Cullen at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California at Los Angeles. At the 33rd annual ASPO meeting in March 2009, the Joseph W. Cullen Award was presented posthumously to Ronald Davis
, MD, Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association
. Other awards created to honor Joseph W. Cullen include the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors' award for Outstanding Contributions to Chronic Disease Prevention and Control and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer award for life-time scientific achievements in prevention research of thoracic malignancies
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
.
History
Joseph Cullen grew up in the Boston area attending Boston Latin SchoolBoston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
where he developed his strong debate and speaking skills which he displayed throughout his professional career. He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in 1968. He served on the faculty at the University of California at Los Angeles, and also worked at the Pavlovian Research Laboratory. Throughout his life, he was an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
. He was the first Director of the Division of Cancer Control at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California at Los Angeles. In this position, he became a leader nationally and internationally in focusing attention among the cancer prevention and control community on the importance of what would make the biggest differences in preventing cancer. Through his work with the International Union Against Cancer
International Union Against Cancer
The International Union Against Cancer, or UICC is the only non-governmental organization dedicated exclusively to the global control of cancer. Its vision is of a world where cancer is eliminated as a major life-threatening disease for future generations...
(UICC), he developed a strong international network of colleagues who were confronting the tobacco problem worldwide, including Nigel Gray (Australia), head of the UICC Tobacco Program from 1974–1990, and Richard Doll
Richard Doll
Sir William Richard Shaboe Doll CH OBE FRS was a British physiologist who became the foremost epidemiologist of the 20th century, turning the subject into a rigorous science. He was a pioneer in research linking smoking to health problems...
(UK), Richard Peto
Richard Peto
Sir Richard Peto FRS is Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford.He attended Taunton's School in Southampton and subsequently studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University....
(UK), Sir John Crofton (UK), Keith Ball (UK), Takeshi Hirayama (Japan), Dimitrios Trichopoulos (Greece), Judith Mackay
Judith Mackay
Judith Longstaff Mackay is a British-born and Hong Kong–based medical doctor and anti-smoking advocate who led a campaign against tobacco in Asia from 1984 onwards, campaigning for tax increases to discourage youth smoking, for the creation of smoke-free areas, and against tobacco promotion...
of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Kjell Bjartveit
Kjell Bjartveit
Odd Kjell Bjartveit was a Norwegian physician and politician for the Christian Democratic Party.He was born in Flekkefjord, took the cand.med. degree at the University of Oslo in 1951, and the dr.med. degree in 1983...
(Norway), D. David Simpson of UK's Action on Smoking and Health
Action on Smoking and Health
Action on Smoking and Health is the name of a number of autonomous pressure groups/charities throughout the world which seek to publicize the risks associated with tobacco smoking and campaigns for greater restrictions on cigarette and tobacco sales....
, Allan C. Erickson of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
and Michael Pertschuk
Michael Pertschuk
Michael Pertschuk is a consumer and public health advocate, author and former government official. He served as consumer counsel and later chief counsel and staff director to the U.S...
(USA).
From 1982 - 1989 Cullen served as Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
(NCI) Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. Together with Dr. Peter Greenwald, the Director for the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, he established a new scientific approach to cancer control based upon a five-phase decision-making model: (1) hypothesis development, (2) method development, (3) controlled intervention trials, (4) defined population studies, and (5) demonstration and implementation studies. A major component of how this model was put into action at NCI was the new Smoking Tobacco and Cancer Program (STCP) which Cullen created in 1982. During his tenure at NCI, he was a vocal advocate for increasing program funding to develop and test intervention strategies to reduce tobacco use and then to apply the best strategies in large target populations. By 1989, the STCP included 55 smoking prevention and cessation trials, affecting 25 states and active in over 200 North American cities. One of the major achievements of the STCP was the establishment of the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study for Cancer Prevention, widely known as ASSIST, which represented a major shift in federal funding for tobacco control from a primary focus on individuals to include a focus on the community and social environment. Based upon the leadership of Cullen within NCI and Dr. Harmon J. Eyre, representing the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
(ACS), and their presentations before the NCI's Board of Scientific Counselors, ASSIST was approved for funding in 1989 and launched in 1991 through a collaborative public/private partnership between NCI and the ACS. ASSIST funded 17 state health departments to conduct the first comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs on a state-wide basis. This seven-year demonstration project served as a model for national tobacco control efforts and led to the current National Tobacco Control Program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
, Office on Smoking and Health, which continues to fund state health departments in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. During the 1980s, Cullen developed a close working relationship with the Surgeon General C. Everett Koop
C. Everett Koop
Charles Everett Koop, MD is an American pediatric surgeon and public health administrator. He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and served as thirteenth Surgeon General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan from 1982 to 1989.-Early years:Koop was born...
. Cullen became a key technical consultant to Dr. Koop as he developed into an international leader in tobacco control. In part from the influence of Cullen, Dr. Koop issued a challenge to Americans in 1984 to "create a smoke-free society in the United States by the year 2000." In 1987, Cullen was awarded the Surgeon General's Medallion, the third highest award given by the Office of the Surgeon General for actions of exceptional achievement to the cause of public health and medicine.
In July 1989, Cullen became Director of the AMC Cancer Research Center in Denver, Colorado. He also was a Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was working in his office at the AMC Cancer Research Center until days before he died suddenly in San Francisco on November 24, 1990 of a malignant brain tumor diagnosed only days before while visiting his daughter in Berkeley, California. He was survived by his wife, Katherine; a son, Neal; his daughter, Jennifer.
In 1992, the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) created the Joseph W. Cullen Memorial Award to memorialize his unparalleled contributions to national tobacco control. The award recognizes distinguished achievement in continued national tobacco control efforts through research, the development of prevention and cessation programs with wide-ranging public health impact, and public policy and advocacy initiatives. The first award was presented by ASPO in 1992 to Dr. Ellen Gritz, who was mentored by Cullen at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California at Los Angeles. At the 33rd annual ASPO meeting in March 2009, the Joseph W. Cullen Award was presented posthumously to Ronald Davis
Ronald Davis
Ronald Davis , born 1937, is an American painter whose work is associated with Geometric abstraction, Abstract Illusionism, Lyrical Abstraction, Hard-edge painting, Shaped canvas painting, Color field painting, and 3D Computer Graphics...
, MD, Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
. Other awards created to honor Joseph W. Cullen include the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors' award for Outstanding Contributions to Chronic Disease Prevention and Control and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer award for life-time scientific achievements in prevention research of thoracic malignancies