Valerie Yerger, ND
Professor
Social Behavioral Sciences
School of Nursing
Valerie B. Yerger is trained as a naturopathic doctor and is a nationally acclaimed health policy researcher with unique training and expertise in community-based research and engagement, and mixed qualitative and quantitative research methods to examine the contribution of tobacco industry marketing and use of menthol cigarettes to the disproportionate smoking rates among African Americans.
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Dr. Yerger’s research activities have included searching tobacco industry document archives, conducting exploratory focus group studies, and collaborating with community partners in community-based participatory research projects. Her established research program focuses on framing the disproportionate burden of tobacco among marginalized communities as a social justice issue. Her research of previously secret tobacco documents uncovered 1) the tobacco industry’s relationships with African American leadership groups, 2) the accumulation of nicotine in tissues containing melanin, 3) the disproportionate marketing of menthol cigarettes in inner-city communities, and 4) tobacco companies’ in-house research on the use of menthol as a flavor additive in cigarettes. The goal of her research program is to expose the tobacco industry targeting of marginalized communities and inform public health policies that effectively reach these communities. To accomplish this goal, she combines her experience collecting and analyzing qualitative data, while building community partnerships. Since 2010 Dr. Yerger has participated in a number of initiatives related to menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. As the focus on regulating these products has shifted from the federal level (US Food and Drug Administration) to local and state efforts, Dr. Yerger has been sought to help educate the constituents and key stakeholders in many, if not most, of these jurisdictions.
In 2014, Dr. Yerger assumed the leadership and responsibility of the California Tobacco Control Program’s (CTCP) “Capacity Building Network” and rebranded it as “The LOOP.” Located at UCSF, The LOOP is a centralized one-stop delivery system that delivers several services for CTCP funded projects, including trainings, “tailored assistance,” and e-blast newsletters designed to increase the competencies, confidence, and abilities of CTCP grantees and their community partners to expand their reach and service to California’s priority populations.
Awards
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- Inaugural Cohort of the National P.E.A.R.L. Program, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2019-2020
- Certificate of Recognition, Eric Garcetti, Mayor Los Angeles, CA, 2019
- Game Changer, Public Health Law Center, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, 2019
- Exceptional Leadership Award, Society of Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Disparities Network, 2019
- Phenomenal Woman Award, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, 2019
- Exceptional Commitment to Community Engagement, Abundant Life Health Ministries Program, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Office, 2018
- Chancellor Award for Public Service, University of California, San Francisco, 2018
- Carol M. Russell Award for Leadership and Vision in Tobacco Control, Tobacco Control Program, California Public Health Department, 2017
- Cornelius Hopper Diversity Award, Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, University of California Office of the President, 2015-2016
- African Heritage Award, Black Student Health Alliance of UCSF, 2015
- Cornelius Hopper Diversity Award, Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, University of California Office of the President, 2013-2014
- Sybil G. Jacobs Award for Outstanding Use of Tobacco Industry Documents, Truth Initiative, 2012
- Cornelius Hopper Diversity Award, Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, University of California Office of the President, 2008-2009
- Distinguished Alumni Award, Bastyr University, 2004
- Health Disparities Scholar Award, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, 2003-2010
Education & Training
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- Fellowship Health Policy/Health Services Research University of California 06/2005
- LM Midwifery/Natural Childbirth Bastyr University 06/1993
- ND Naturopathic Medicine Bastyr University 06/1992
- MA Clinical Holistic Health Educatiton John F. Kennedy University 06/1985
- BS Conservation of Natural Resources University of California 06/1981
Websites
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- The LOOP (TheLOOP.ucsf.edu)
Publications (34)
Top publication keywords:
Academic PerformanceTobacco IndustryIndians, North AmericanTobacco Use DisorderSmoking CessationTobacco ProductsSunbathingNicotineMentholAlaska NativesTobacco Smoke PollutionMelaninsMarketingSmokingConsumer Behavior
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Recommendations to advance equity in tobacco control.
Tobacco control 2022 Mills SD, Rosario C, Yerger VB, Kalb MD, Ribisl KM -
Flavored Tobacco Product Use Among Young Adults by Race and Ethnicity: Evidence From the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2022 Watkins SL, Pieper F, Chaffee BW, Yerger VB, Ling PM, Max W -
Tobacco industry: a barrier to social justice.
Tobacco control 2022 Romeo-Stuppy K, Huber L, Toebes B, Yerger V, Senkubuge F -
A qualitative assessment of the perceptions and attitudes towards commercial tobacco policies and education among tribal communities in California.
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse 2021 Soto C, Ramos G, Martinez D, Moerner L, Salinas E, Battle R, Yerger V -
What more evidence is needed? Remove menthol cigarettes from the marketplace-now.
Tobacco control 2021 Yerger V
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The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council: Advocating for a menthol cigarette ban in San Francisco, California.
Tobacco control 2021 Mills SD, McGruder CO, Yerger VB -
GOOD TROUBLE.
Tobacco control 2020 Malone RE, Yerger VB -
Effects of Cigarette Prices on Intention to Quit, Quit Attempts, and Successful Cessation Among African American Smokers.
Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2020 Keeler C, Max W, Yerger VB, Yao T, Wang Y, Ong MK, Sung HY -
Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Subsequent Academic Performance Among U.S. Youth.
American journal of preventive medicine 2020 Choi K, Chen-Sankey JC, Merianos AL, McGruder C, Yerger V -
The Association of Menthol Cigarette Use With Quit Attempts, Successful Cessation, and Intention to Quit Across Racial/Ethnic Groups in the United States.
Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2017 Keeler C, Max W, Yerger V, Yao T, Ong MK, Sung HY -
Tanning Capacity and Nicotine Dependence Among African Americans.
Journal of the National Medical Association 2017 King G, Moolchan ET, Bendel RB, Yerger VB -
Responsiveness to cigarette prices by different racial/ethnic groups of US adults.
Tobacco control 2017 Yao T, Ong MK, Max W, Keeler C, Wang Y, Yerger VB, Sung HY -
Letter by Lempert et al Regarding Article, "Menthol and Nonmenthol Cigarette Smoking: All-Cause Deaths, Cardiovascular Disease Deaths, and Other Causes of Death Among Blacks and Whites".
Circulation 2016 Lempert LK, Yerger V, Glantz SA -
"Tired of watching customers walk out the door because of the smoke": a content analysis of media coverage of voluntarily smokefree restaurants and bars.
BMC public health 2015 McDaniel PA, Offen N, Yerger V, Forsyth S, Malone RE -
Smoking, Work Stress, and Barriers to Participation in HMO Smoking Cessation Treatment Among Transit Workers: Focus Group Results.
Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health 2015 Carol B. Cunradi, Roland S. Moore, Robynn S. Battle, Valerie B. Yerger -
Smoking cessation among transit workers: beliefs and perceptions among an at-risk occupational group.
Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy 2015 Battle RS, Cunradi CB, Moore RS, Yerger VB -
Evaluating the implementation process of a citywide smoke-free multiunit housing ordinance: insights from community stakeholders.
American journal of public health 2014 Yerger VB, Battle RS, Moore RS -
"A breath of fresh air worth spreading": media coverage of retailer abandonment of tobacco sales.
American journal of public health 2014 McDaniel PA, Offen N, Yerger VB, Malone RE -
Older smokers could be the strongest supporters for U.S. government regulation of tobacco: a focus group study.
Tobacco induced diseases 2013 Yerger VB, Cataldo JK, Malone RE -
Being part of something: transformative outcomes of a community-based participatory study.
Health promotion practice 2012 Malone RE, McGruder C, Froelicher ES, Yerger VB -
Quid pro quo: tobacco companies and the black press.
American journal of public health 2011 McCandless PM, Yerger VB, Malone RE -
Menthol sensory qualities and smoking topography: a review of tobacco industry documents.
Tobacco control 2011 Yerger VB, McCandless PM -
Menthol's potential effects on nicotine dependence: a tobacco industry perspective.
Tobacco control 2011 Yerger VB -
Tobacco documents research methodology.
Tobacco control 2011 Anderson SJ, McCandless PM, Klausner K, Taketa R, Yerger VB -
Tobacco industry knowledge of the role of menthol in chemosensory perception of tobacco smoke.
Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2010 Kreslake JM, Yerger VB -
Combining community participatory research with a randomized clinical trial: the Protecting the Hood Against Tobacco (PHAT) smoking cessation study.
Heart & lung : the journal of critical care 2009 Froelicher ES, Doolan D, Yerger VB, McGruder CO, Malone RE -
Link between facultative melanin and tobacco use among African Americans.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior 2009 King G, Yerger VB, Whembolua GL, Bendel RB, Kittles R, Moolchan ET -
Nicotine replacement therapy: perceptions of African-American smokers seeking to quit.
Journal of the National Medical Association 2008 Yerger VB, Wertz M, McGruder C, Froelicher ES, Malone RE -
Racialized geography, corporate activity, and health disparities: tobacco industry targeting of inner cities.
Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 2007 Yerger VB, Przewoznik J, Malone RE -
"It's like Tuskegee in reverse": a case study of ethical tensions in institutional review board review of community-based participatory research.
American journal of public health 2006 Malone RE, Yerger VB, McGruder C, Froelicher E -
Melanin and nicotine: A review of the literature.
Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2006 Yerger VB, Malone RE -
Taking it to the streets: responses of African American young adults to internal tobacco industry documents.
Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2005 Yerger VB, Daniel MR, Malone RE -
When is a cigar not a cigar? African American youths' understanding of "cigar" use.
American journal of public health 2001 Yerger V, Pearson C, Malone RE -
Cigar risk perceptions in focus groups of urban African American youth.
Journal of substance abuse 2001 Malone RE, Yerger V, Pearson C