Scott Leischow, PhD

Scott Leischow is a research professor at Arizona State University and a member of the University of Arizona Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction. He has held senior leadership roles in both academic institutions and federal government agencies.

Most of Leischow’s research focus centers on medical and behavioral treatments for tobacco dependence. He uses systems and network science to understand how to share and put health programs into practice effectively, with the goal of improving overall population health. His contributions to public health have earned him several honors, including the National Institutes of Health Director’s Award, and he is a past president of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.

Before his current role, Leischow served in several major academic positions:

• Arizona State University: Professor and Executive Director of Clinical and Translational Science
• Mayo Clinic: Professor, co-lead for Cancer Prevention and Control, and Arizona lead for health equity research
• University of Arizona: Professor and Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Arizona Cancer Center

In government, Leischow served as the chief of the Tobacco Control Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute. He was also a senior advisor for tobacco policy in the Office of the Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.