In less than one week, the entire University of Miami and Jackson Memorial medical campus will be smoke free.

To kick off the final push toward the March 1 initiative, the Smoke Free Committee is hosting a groundbreaking event at Alamo Park this Thursday at noon. That's when the first of dozens of permanent "Smoke Free Campus" signs will be installed at the park. The remainder of the signs will be erected around campus over the next few days. The event, led by Richard Thurer, M.D., professor of surgery and faculty ombudsperson at the Miller School, Arthur Fournier, M.D., professor of family medicine and community health, associate dean for community health and UM AHEC program director, and Ted Vana, D.O., M.B.A., medical director of Occupational Health Services at Jackson, will also include information about smoking cessation programs available to everyone.

Starting Monday, March 1, the entire Miller School of Medicine and UHealth - University of Miami Health System and Jackson Health System will be smoke free, from the parking garages and buildings to the courtyards and walkways. The new policy, which was announced at the Great American Smokeout last year, will apply to employees, patients and visitors on campus.

The smoke-free policy will cover all property owned or leased by the Miller School and Jackson Health System on the medical campus. In addition to buildings, smoking will be prohibited in all outdoor areas on campus, including the Schoninger Research Quadrangle, parking garages or in vehicles parked on campus. The Jackson North and South facilities will also fall under the smoke-free banner.

Sponsored by the University of Miami Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Tobacco Training and Cessation Program, the new policy emphasizes education and encouragement and will enlist campus ambassadors to advise smokers of the ban and the variety of cessation programs available to help them quit. A dedicated Web page with information on the cessation programs, including UM's renowned BeSmokeFree program, health benefits and other resources, is available by visting uhealthsmokefree.com.