Clifford E. Douglas

Clifford E. Douglas serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Health Management & Policy department at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He is director of the University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network (UMTRN), which he led as executive director starting in 2007 and as director since 2009. Douglas also teaches the seminar "Tobacco: From Seedling to Social Policy" (HMP618) and leads the Smoke-Free Environments Law Project.

His educational background includes:

• JD in Law from University of Michigan Law School (1983)
• BA in English from University of Michigan (1980)

Douglas is a nationally recognized tobacco control expert with over three decades of experience in tobacco-related policy, regulatory, and legal issues. His research focuses on federal regulation of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, health disparities in smoking populations, and evidence-based policies to protect residents from tobacco harm. He has extensive experience working with government agencies including serving as a consulting tobacco control policy advisor for the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health and U.S. Surgeon General during the Obama administration.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on eliminating combustible tobacco use, addressing health disparities in tobacco use, and developing effective tobacco control policies at institutional and governmental levels. Douglas has been instrumental in shaping tobacco control strategies through academic research, policy development, and legal advocacy.

Professional recognition includes:

• Joseph W. Cullen Award by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
• Certificate of appreciation from President Jimmy Carter and Surgeon General C. Everett Koop
• Congressional Record Citation by U.S. Representative Richard J. Durbin
• National finalist for the Public Justice 2009 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award

Douglas has held significant leadership roles including American Cancer Society's Vice President for Tobacco Control and founding Director of ACS's Center for Tobacco Control (2015-2020). His work bridges academia, government, and advocacy through positions with the American Public Health Association, Framework Convention Alliance, Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, and Tobacco Control Legal Consortium. He has represented plaintiffs in landmark lawsuits against tobacco manufacturers and contributed to international tobacco control efforts, including defending Uruguay's tobacco control laws against Philip Morris International.

As director of UMTRN, Douglas leads research and policy initiatives focused on tobacco control, with particular attention to vulnerable populations and evidence-based interventions. His Smoke-Free Environments Law Project provides consultation to Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services and local governments on implementing effective tobacco control measures.