About Emily Carlson
Emily Carlson is the Office Chief for Tobacco Prevention and Cessation at ADHS, serving in this capacity since January 2019. Emily possesses a broad set of skills in program management, community engagement, and leadership across the complete spectrum of stakeholders, including local, state, and national partners. In this position, Emily oversees all commercial tobacco and nicotine prevention and cessation activities for youth and adults. Prior to this role, Emily was the program manager in the Office of Cancer Prevention and Control at ADHS for six years. She was instrumental in statewide efforts to prevent and control cancer, while remaining highly committed to public health values and evidence-based programming. Emily is also the Immediate Past Chair of the national Tobacco Control Network Executive Committee.
Emily is well-versed in building consensus around a common set of public health priorities and strategies. As tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of disease-related death in Arizona, her current focus is to reduce commercial tobacco use among communities most disproportionately impacted and address the alarming rise in vape use among Arizona youth.
Emily obtained her Master of Public Health degree specializing in Social and Behavioral Health from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2013. Emily’s contract work with the Nevada Department of Health & Human Services prompted her master’s degree project that explored access to health care and health information among Nevada’s youth.
In her free time, Emily enjoys cooking, yoga, and spending time with her spouse, infant daughter, and their two English Bulldogs: Oliver and Winnie.
