VCU news

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley
Division of University Relations

The VCU Medical Center becomes smoke free June 30 when a policy goes into effect that prohibits smoking anywhere inside or outside of the VCU Medical Center downtown and Stony Point campuses.

Smoking has been prohibited within the medical center facilities since the early 1990s.  The CleanAIR/Quality Care initiative expands the no-smoking policy to all outdoor areas of VCU’s MCV Campus and its Stony Point location in suburban Richmond. 

The policy applies to anyone on the VCU Medical Center grounds – patients, visitors, employees and physicians.

“As a strong national leader in the fight against cancer, VCU and the VCU Health System play essential leadership roles in ensuring the health of our communities and our Commonwealth,” said Michael Rao, president of VCU and the VCU Health System. “Our CleanAIR/Quality Care initiative is a key step in ensuring that the environment of our health sciences campus supports our mission through better health.” 

The VCU Medical Center joins hospitals across the country in an effort to be smoke-free.

“The policy is endorsed by the American Lung Association and other health advocacy groups,” said Dr. Sheldon Retchin, CEO of the VCU Health System and VCU vice president for Health Sciences. “It is intended to help the VCU Medical Center maintain the healthiest possible environment for patients, employees and visitors.” 

Individuals will be asked to refrain from smoking anywhere on the medical center campuses. The CleanAIR/Quality Care initiative includes a broad array of resources that will be available to everyone visiting or working on the VCU Medical Center campuses, such as education, treatment, tobacco-use cessation plans and products to ease smoking cravings.