Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

At MCCC, our overarching mission is to alleviate the cancer burden in Virginia by addressing the complex interplay of biological, social, and policy factors through groundbreaking research initiatives. We are steadfast in our commitment to advancing person-centered care, extending from prevention to survivorship, and fostering integration with communities. Additionally, we are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of community-centric researchers and healthcare professionals.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center is a nationally ranked cancer center located in the heart of Downtown Richmond. All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off,12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here:https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/university-and academic-professional-benefits/

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran's period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

Position Primary Purpose and General Responsibilities

Briefly state the chief objective of this position and age group(s) to be served (if applicable): A Tobacco Treatment Specialist ("TTS") is sought to be part of a multidisciplinary smoking cessation program within the Massey Cancer Service Line. The TTS will work with the Cancer Survivorship Program to reduce the negative impacts of the physical and psychological dependence of tobacco use in cancer patients. The TTS will be responsible for the counseling arm of the multidisciplinary smoking cessation program by providing both individual and group smoking cessation services for cancer patients cared for at VCU. It is expected that the TTS will participate in any research activities pertaining to tobacco cessation as well as engage in community outreach efforts relating to smoking cessation. The TTS will be expected to keep a registry of all patients seen within the smoking cessation program.

Other job duties include and are not limited to:

The TTS is expected to model effective quitting to patients, providers and staff and therefore should be free from all tobacco products, including vape or e-cigarettes, for a period of at least 6 months and remain tobacco free for the duration of performing in this role.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide direct outpatient care for Massey Cancer Center patients who want to decrease or quit tobacco/nicotine products 

• Assist in coordinating care with primary care team and/or oncology team as needed

• Perform follow-up visits/phone calls as indicated

• Respond to referrals

• Work from a patient registry of smokers to provide proactive phone calls to assess tobacco use/quit status and to provide motivational interviewing to support quitting

• Coordinate tobacco treatment plan with appropriate team members for implementation

• Assist the family and patient in acquiring skills needed to successfully utilize the tobacco treatment plan

• Identify discounted tobacco cessation therapeutic opportunities and facilitate applications for discounted prescription and nicotine replacement programs 

• Query about tobacco use history 

• Perform patient assessment of tobacco use and quit status

• Perform follow-up visits/phone calls as indicated

• Promote population-based enhancement of tobacco cessation reach and effectiveness.

The TTS will :

• Assist in coordinating care with primary care team and/or oncology team as needed and 

• Perform follow-up visits/phone calls as indicated

• Work from a patient registry of smokers to provide proactive phone calls

• Respond to referrals 

• Coordinate tobacco treatment plan with appropriate team members for implementation

• Work with providers, as needed, to assist patients in receiving discounted tobacco cessation therapeutics 

• Assist in providing educational programs regarding Tobacco Cessation Treatment to clinical providers and relevant hospital staff 

• Assist in providing educational programs regarding the Tobacco Treatment services offered to patients, their families and the community

• Work with Health System staff to develop a workflow that routinely assesses tobacco use and quit status in patients

• Assist in providing educational programs regarding the Tobacco Cessation Treatment to clinical providers and relevant hospital staff 

• Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects in order to support the mission of Massey Cancer Center.

• Provides assistance to team members.

• Accepts alternate assignments, as require Licensure, Certification, or Registration 

Minimum Hiring Standards:

• Associates Degree

• One year patient education and/or behavior change intervention in healthcare setting

• Research experience in a -Associates Degree

• One year patient education and/or behavior change intervention in healthcare setting

• Research experience in a clinical healthcare setting

• Proficient in Word, Excel, Powerpoint

•  setting

• Proficient in Word, Excel, Powerpoint

Preferred Hiring Standards:

• Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training 

Level and type of experience PREFERRED:

• TTS Training

• TTS Certification (NCTTP/NCNTT) - preferred

• Experience working with patients in an oncology setting

• Proficient in REDCap

Salary Range: 53,7000Position Details: Department: Massey Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmployment Type: UF - University Employee FTRestricted Status: NoFTE: 1Exemption Status: ExemptORP Eligible: YesUniversity Job Family: Health Sciences Health Educator HS 1 (21231Y)Contact Information:Contact Name: Massey Cancer CenterContact Email: masseyhr@vcu.edu