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Media RelationsUPMC/University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences

In the News - Ronald B Herberman, M.D.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cancer institute partners with German hospital
June 25, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pitt Cancer Institute, German center team up
June 26, 2008

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Foundation grant to help Pitt study cancer-related gene
May 12, 2008
By Pohla Smith

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pitt Cancer Institute announces new research program
May 5, 2008

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

City's status as trailblazer in medical research is growing
Note: Please view the interactive flash piece by clicking on the link in the right-hand sidebar of the article.
By Luis Fabregas
October 22, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Redpath's growth spurs move to Strip District
October 19, 2007
By Ron DaParma

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Letters to the editor - We must put more resources toward a future without cancer
October 01, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Maverick cancer researcher focuses on prevention, information
By Allison M. Heinrichs
September 29, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

UPMC plans research center in historic building
By Sam Spatter
July 28, 2007

Pitsburgh Tribune-Review

UPMC drops Shadyside property deal
By Sam Spatter and Ron DaParma
June 30, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Op-Ed-Smoking kills
June 21, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

County smoking ban struck down by courts
By Justin Vellucci
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
May 23, 2007

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wannstedt, Dixon among top five earners at Pitt
Pitt releases salary figures; Chancellor Nordenberg had fifth-highest overall
May 18, 2007
By Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Scientists coming to region to join cancer fight
By Allison M. Heinrichs
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
May 8, 2007

The Cure: Western Pa. has become an important player in the fight to stop cancer
By Allison M. Heinrichs
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
May 7, 2007
Climbing the ranks charts (PDF)

State development officials announce $13.4M plan
By Bill Zlatos
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, February 16, 2007

Local athletes giving back through charitable foundations
By Rob Biertempfel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, December 24, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lawyer delays ruling on restaurant smoking ban
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
By Gabrielle Banks, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Smoking ban ruling to come by Dec. 31
By Bobby Kerlik
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County Council shows support for smoking ban
Thursday, July 13, 2006
By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Patriot-News

State should ban smoking in public spaces

Publication: Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA)
Author(s): RONALD HERBERMAN For the Patriot-News
Date: June 4, 2006
Page: F03
Column: PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS
Section: Review & Opinion

Kudos to Harrisburg City Council for its attempts to ban smoking in city-owned buildings, but more must be done to protect the health of all Pennsylvanians and to keep our economy moving forward.

The state's flagship cities are on the verge of losing one of our most profitable businesses: national conferences. A growing number of professional associations, including the Girl Scouts and the American Public Health Association, refuse to hold national meetings in cities that permit smoking in public places.

While our convention hotels and airports are poised for greatness, and bookings have continued to grow in recent years, this trend might soon be in jeopardy, unless the Legislature acts decisively to ban smoking in public places across the commonwealth.

When it comes to the consequences of smoking, it is not just commercial interests that pay a heavy price. In a report released last year, the Society of Actuaries asserted that the cost for medical bills and lost work due to tobacco-related health problems amounts to $10 billion each year in the United States.

We are hearing more and more about otherwise healthy people, such as the late Dana Reeves, who are confronting lung cancer even though they never smoked.

In many cases, and especially in women, lung cancer can occur in nonsmokers simply as a result of their having the misfortune of either growing up or working with smokers.

The time for debate is long past. Growing numbers of physicians and cancer researchers, and a wide array of other stakeholders concerned about cancer, all agree that we must take an aggressive position against tobacco smoking, and soon. The Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium -- PAC3 -- includes cancer researchers and physicians from all the state's major cancer research and treatment centers, plus key representatives of the health insurance industry, pharmaceutical and biotech industries, community hospitals, foundations and cancer survivors.

The leaders of PAC3 have taken an extraordinary, unanimous position. We recommend that the state act now to ban indoor smoking in all public places.

Banning smoking indoors is likely to result in dramatic health benefits for the citizens of our state. These include fewer workdays lost by those who must work in smoky bars and restaurants, lowered health care costs and premiums for all of us and reduced costs of cleaning up tar and cigarette butts. In addition, scientists have amassed considerable proof that restricting smoking in indoor public spaces results in fewer people smoking and fewer people being exposed to the dangers of passive smoke.

More than 10 states already have taken action, as have the nations of Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Uganda and Australia. Contrary to the dire warnings of smoking advocates that businesses would suffer tremendously after restrictions on smoking were adopted, in New York City business has instead increased. As of March 2005, New York City's business tax receipts from restaurants and bars were up 8.7 percent and employment in these establishments increased by 11,600 since the law was enacted on June 23, 2003.

Now it is time to confront this issue in Pennsylvania.

Tobacco revenues fund a host of activities aimed at reducing smoking through voluntary efforts, and these are certainly having a significant impact.

However, we must forge ahead with mandatory actions, such as those already taken in so many other parts of the country and the world, including a growing number of cities close to Pennsylvania.

By banning indoor public smoking, our state can extend its legacy to protect the public's health. It also will preserve the potential of our convention centers to attract new businesses, as growing numbers of clients insist on smoke-free environments.

DR. RONALD B. HERBERMAN is chairman of the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Coaches, doctors top pay list at Pitt
By Jennifer Bails
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, May 26, 2006

Arnie tees it up again for cancer
By Jennifer Bails
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

UPMC to help minorities get cancer care
Friday, February 17, 2006
By Christopher Snowbeck, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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