Patricia Henley awarded 2023 Blake Cady Award For HER Leadership 

Dedicated Leader with Over 20 Years of Experience is 2023 recipient of the Blake Cady Award

Tobacco Free Mass presented its 2023 Blake Cady Award for Leadership in Tobacco Control to Patricia "Patti" Henley. Patti is being recognized for her extraordinary contributions to reduce the tobacco industry's influence across the Commonwealth. 

With over 20 years in the tobacco control field, Patti has worked at the municipal level with Boards of Health and schools to develop policies that address the prevention of youth tobacco use; at the community level to bring resources and technical assistance to community groups and coalitions working to address tobacco use and exposure; and on the state level at the Department of Public Health, providing direction and oversight in the development and implementation of tobacco prevention and control strategies. 

“Patti Henley has been a dedicated leader behind the scenes, so it is wonderful to see her receive this recognition by her peers at Tobacco Free Mass (TFM)," stated Ellana Stinson, MD, Chair for Tobacco Free Mass. "This award is well deserved, Patti joins a select group of tobacco control champions who have all found a way to make the impossible, possible."

Patti recently retired as the Director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In her role as Director, Patti oversaw the development and implementation of a network of statewide and local services designed to help smokers quit, protect youth from the influence of the tobacco industry, and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.