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Michigan Smoking Law Named for the Late Dr. Ron Davis, East Lansing

Health Crusader Led Michigan DPH, was official of Henry Ford Health System

May 19, 2010       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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Dr. Ronald M. Davis, Michigan health crusader.
 

As a medical student he joined the American Medical Association after finding out the organization's physician retirement fund was invested in tobacco firms.

Dr. Ronald M. Davis set out to make the A.M.A. into an anti-tobacco organization even if he had to become president to do it. And, that's exactly what happened.

He joined the A.M.A., got to be a board member and finally, in 2007 was named president. It was during his term as president he discovered he had contracted pancreatic cancer.

"Davis and a precious few other physicians saw the disconnect: Here was a group claiming to protect the public health, while at the same time aiming to profit from tobacco stock." wrote Howard Wolinsky, former Chicago Sun-Times medical reporter.

A little known fact is that the new Michigan Smoke Free Law, that became effective May 1, is named for a nationally-known health crusader from East Lansing.

The Michigan Legislature passed the Dr. Ron Davis Smoke-Free Air Law on Dec. 10, 2009 "to preserve the health, comfort and environment of the people of the state by limiting exposure to second-hand smoke."

Under the new law, smoking is prohibited in public places and food service establishments and, unless otherwise exempted, places of employment.

Living units of apartments and condominium buildings are not covered by the law; however, owners may adopt smoke-free policies.

Homes and offices used only by the owner, if no other employees are present, are exempt from the ban. Smoking may be allowed in outdoor areas but the law is silent on mandatory smoking breaks for employees.

Local enforcement of the act is through management of the establishment and the Bay County Health Department, and violations may be reported by calling 895-4281.

Dr. Davis, who died at age 52 in 2008, was director of the Office on Smoking and Health of the U.S. Center for Disease Control 1987-1991 and headed the Michigan Department of Public Health 1991-1995.

Dr. Davis was a native of Chicago, a zoology graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago, where he earned his masters in public policy and medical degrees.

He campaigned against tobacco, alcohol, obesity, illicit drugs and unhealthy lifestyles in his career as a public health official.

After he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer he helped to raise public awareness of the disease, which kills 34,000 a year in this country.

Dr. Davis already was a crusader against tobacco when the U.S. surgeon general, C. Everett Koop issued reports on smoking -- calling it as addictive as heroin and responsible for 300,000 American deaths a year.

Despite years of warnings on cigarette packs, millions of people were still lighting up, and American cigarette exports were earning $2.5 billion a year and rising.

In the generation since, although millions have given up smoking, 400,000 still die from the habit every year, the New York Times has reported.

Tirelessly making speeches and writing articles in journals and and health bulletins, testifying before Congressional committees and state and federal agencies of the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs. Dr. Davis promoted an acceptance of healthy lifestyles through diet, exercise and abstinence from tobacco.

Dr. Davis, a specialist in preventive medicine, was the director of health promotion and disease prevention for the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit just before his death.

Ronald Mark Davis was born in Chicago on June 18, 1956, to George and Alice Komessar Davis.

After earning his medical degree in 1983, he interned in Chicago and trained in epidemiology and became a resident in preventive medicine at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. In 1984, he became the first resident physician ever named to the A.M.A. board, serving until 1987. He was elected to the board again in 2001 and was re-elected in 2005.

Dr. Davis also was a founding editor of Tobacco Control, a health journal published by the British Medical Association.

He taught at Johns Hopkins, Wayne State, Morehouse, Michigan State and the Universities of Illinois and Michigan. He also testified before government agencies on many topics, including obesity, now surpassing smoking as a health risk and cause of death.

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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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