Connolly, Gregory N., D.M.D., M.P.H.
(MA Dental Public Health Dir., Anti-Tobacco Expert) Plaintiff, Tobacco Control Program Dir.Gregory N. Connolly was the director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program in Boston, MA in 1994. He was a Public Health official. Connolly spoke on ABC's "Day One" program (Day One 2/28/94). "Tobacco extract is taking nicotine out of the tobacco leaf. It's a drug called nicotine. It's a euphemism. It's like calling heroin poppyseed oil. It's a drug, it's a drug, it's a drug." (Day One 2/28/94). Dr. Connolly has directed the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health efforts to curb smoking since 1986. Dr. Connolly began his career in public health in the late 1970s as a dentist with a Veteran's Administration hospital in Brockton, MA, and later at the Boston Dept. of Health and Hospitals. He has been with the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health since 1980, serving as Director of the Dental Health Division and Director of the Office on Nonsmoking and Health. Dr. Connolly has testified numerous times before Congress, and is nationally recognized for his work on smokeless tobacco. He was instrumental in the passage of the Federal Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986. He has traveled throughout the country educating major league baseball players on the dangers of smokeless tobacco and conducted research on smokeless tobacco use among professional baseball players. As a national advocate, Dr. Connolly has made several appearances on "60 Minutes"," Face the Nation", "Good Morning America", and the "Today Show" to discuss tobacco issues, and has written over 50 scientific articles for publication such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He is also a U.S. Government appointee to the World Health Organization panel on Smoking and Health and has traveled throughout Asia and Eastern Europe training public health officials on tobacco. Dr. Connolly received a bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross, a dental degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and a masters degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. He lives with his wife and four children in Belmont, MA. His home address is 399 Common St., Belmont, MA 02178.