The NAQC team brings expertise, dedication and commitment to the work of advancing the quitline community. Feel free to contact us with questions or comments. Staff may be contacted via email or telephone (1-800-398-5489).

 

Linda Bailey, JD, MHS
President & CEO
Ms. Bailey is the founder of NAQC and provides leadership and strategic vision for the organization. She has a notable career in public health as an attorney, educator and epidemiologist. Prior positions have included director, Center for Tobacco Cessation (American Cancer Society); associate director, Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health in Washington, D.C. (US DHHS); senior advisor on health promotion and disease prevention, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (US DHHS); study director, Institute of Medicine; and epidemiologist, Houston Health Department. She has served on faculty at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the University of Maryland School of Law. Ms. Bailey holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, a master’s in health sciences from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

 

Jessie Saul, PhD
Director of Research
Dr. Saul directs all research-related activities for NAQC, including its annual survey, minimal data set and research grants. She is also engaged in developing a research infrastructure for the organization. Prior experience includes senior research program manager, ClearWay Minnesota, where she conducted research and evaluation and oversaw evaluation of the QUITPLAN cessation programs. Dr. Saul has conducted research on blood supply safety in France and the U.S. and specialized in cross-cultural comparisons of public understanding of health issues. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a doctoral degree from Cornell University.

Natalia Gromov
Administrator
Ms. Gromov manages many business operations for NAQC, including bookkeeping, membership inquiries and data, meeting planning, vendor relations and support to NAQC’s President & CEO. She has five years experience in database development and management, business operations, bookkeeping, human resources, and liaising with vendors and clients.

Tamatha Thomas-Haase, MPA
Manager, Training & Program Services
Ms. Thomas-Haase has served with NAQC since 2004, developing training programs for advancing the operations and services of quitlines. She has over 15 years’ experience in public health and social/community services. Prior positions include, manager, Medical Support Services, Group Health Cooperative (WA); tobacco cessation specialist for the State of Washington, Department of Health; criminal justice instructor at Pierce College (WA); and a variety of positions in sexual assault services. Ms. Thomas-Haase holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in public administration from The Evergreen State College.

RaeAnne Davis, MSPH
Research Assistant
Ms. Davis’ work includes developing and disseminating resources and tools to support quitline research. Ms. Davis also works on the NAQC annual survey. RaeAnne has an extensive history with quitlines, having served as the Quit Line Coordinator for the initial launch and early years of the Kentucky quitline, and as a NAQC member, has been involved in NAQC workgroups, including co-chairing the MDS Update workgroup. Her academic background is in public health (MSPH) and biology (BS) from the University of Kentucky. For the past year, Ms. Davis served as a Grant Administrator and Clinical Trials Regulatory Compliance Specialist at the University of Cincinnati.

Deb Osborne, MPH
Manager, Public-Private Partnerships
Ms. Osborne has over 20 years of public health experience with 10 years dedicated to tobacco control and prevention. In her role with NAQC, she works to help state’s enhance their capacity to meet the demand for quitline services and sustainability through the development of public-private partnerships. In her most recent position as Director of Cessation Initiatives with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, she spearheaded the development of a very successful statewide quitline cost-sharing partnership with private health plans. In her previous position, as the Director of Secondhand Smoke Initiatives, Ms. Osborne developed the statewide infrastructure for the passage of local clean indoor air policies. Ms. Osborne holds a bachelor’s degree from ColoradoStateUniversity and a master’s degree in public health from University of Minnesota.