Valerie B. Yerger

Valerie B. Yerger is Professor in Health Policy at the University of California, San Francisco, with over twenty-five years of expertise addressing tobacco-related health disparities through research, advocacy, and policy leadership. A licensed naturopathic doctor and former NIH Health Disparities Scholar, she frames disproportionate tobacco burdens in vulnerable communities as social injustices requiring systemic solutions.

Her educational background includes:

• B.S. in Natural Resources from University of California, Berkeley (1981)
• M.A. in Health Education from John F. Kennedy University (1985)
• N.D. in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University (1992)
• Fellowship in Health Policy Research from University of California, San Francisco (2005)

Dr. Yerger's research centers on tobacco industry targeting of marginalized populations, particularly through menthol cigarette marketing in African American communities. She pioneers culturally tailored cessation approaches that address social determinants of health, employing community-based participatory methods to transform research into actionable policy. Her work consistently links nicotine addiction to structural inequities, advocating for solutions that center community voices in tobacco control.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a dominant focus on racial equity in tobacco regulation, with 80% addressing menthol cigarettes and health disparities. Her scholarship increasingly integrates stress management and social determinants into cessation frameworks, demonstrating how political and economic barriers perpetuate tobacco-related harms. Recent work emphasizes digital interventions for high-impact populations, reflecting her innovative approach to scaling evidence-based solutions.

Her exceptional contributions have earned:

• UCSF Chancellor Award for Public Service (2018)
• Carol M. Russell Award for Leadership in Tobacco Control (2017)
• Public Health Law Center's Game Changer Award (2019)
• Truth Initiative's Sybil G. Jacobs Award (2012)
• Three Cornelius Hopper Diversity Awards from University of California
• Phenomenal Woman Award from U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (2019)

Dr. Yerger provides expert guidance to federal agencies including the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, and recently contributed to the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative where her stress-management framework generated a 700% increase in cessation app adoption. She mentors emerging researchers through community-academic partnerships, emphasizing actionable science that reduces tobacco-related mortality in high-disparity populations.

Her collaborative work centers on the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council and partnerships with UCSF's Smoking Cessation Leadership Center and Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, focusing on policy advocacy, community engagement, and digital health interventions tailored for Black communities disproportionately impacted by menthol cigarettes.