Leah is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Tobacco Prevention and Evaluation Program in the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Ranney has fifteen years of experience designing and conducting research and program evaluation studies. She mentors students in various levels of academic programs to help increase their knowledge in tobacco control research and program evaluation. Dr. Ranney’s research centers on building evidence to inform clinical practice and strengthen regulation of tobacco products. She uses an action research framework designed to create knowledge that drives clinical and regulatory changes in policies in ways that promote health. Currently, she is a co-Investigator on an NIH/FDA funded R01 project at the UNC Center for Regulatory Research on Tobacco Communication (CRRTC).