Director of Tobacco Control Health Initiatives
CAI
New York, New York
David Davis, LMSW is the Director of Tobacco Control Initiatives at Cicatelli Associates Inc. (CAI) and serves as the Project Director for the National Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Recovery (CoE-TFR). He earned his Master of Social Work from the University at Albany – SUNY and brings more than 13 years of experience as a social worker supporting individuals with behavioral health conditions. For the past eight years, he has focused on strengthening public health systems and expanding access to tobacco use treatment.
David leads the CoE-TFR, a SAMHSA-funded initiative that works with behavioral health systems across the country to embed tobacco use treatment into care for people with mental health and substance use challenges. The CoE-TFR builds on David’s long-standing commitment to improving care and helping more individuals achieve tobacco-free recovery. His work promotes practical, recovery-oriented strategies and emphasizes collaboration between tobacco control and behavioral health fields.
In addition, David oversees CAI’s Center for Health Systems Improvement (CHSI), a statewide program funded by the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Control. CHSI supports healthcare organizations across New York in making tobacco use treatment a standard part of care in primary care and behavioral health settings. Under David’s leadership, the program helps providers apply proven approaches, improve service delivery, and strengthen coordination across systems.
David previously led Project BAT – Black people Against Tobacco, a community-based initiative in Jackson, Mississippi. The project supported local efforts to prevent and reduce tobacco use by engaging residents in developing and implementing tailored strategies. Project BAT focused on practical solutions grounded in community priorities and local leadership.
With a foundation in clinical social work, David brings firsthand knowledge of the challenges individuals face when trying to quit tobacco, especially in the context of behavioral health. His approach bridges direct service experience with system-level change, and he has worked closely with providers, community groups, and public agencies to design solutions that improve treatment access and support long-term recovery.
Across all his work, David remains committed to expanding tobacco use treatment in ways that are practical, responsive, and sustainable.
C5 - Person-Centered Integrated Care: Addressing Opioid and Tobacco Addiction Together
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
1:30pm - 3:00pm EST