Cohort 4 Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky (SPARK) alumna Carey Beth Smith served as a keynote panelist at the 2026 Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Conference: Beyond the Smoke on Feb. 17 in Frankfort, Ky. The purpose of the conference was to help young people across Kentucky discover their potential as leaders and changemakers and redefine the realities of youth tobacco and nicotine use.
Carey Beth discussed her SPARK project, "Exploring Perceptions of Lung Cancer Prevention in Appalachia," a community-based project in her hometown of Laurel County that explored how young people and families understand “Voices Beyond the Smoke,” she translated complex science into clear, youth-friendly insights that helped students push past misconceptions and build practical advocacy skills. Using the development and implementation of her SPARK project as a case study, Carey Beth walked youth through the process of transforming evidence-based information into relatable messages that combat misinformation and empower communities.
“When we know the data, we know what our community believes. How do we make a message strong enough to shift the narrative around tobacco in Kentucky?" Smith asked attendees.
Grounded in Appalachian context and shaped by her commitment to giving back to her community, her perspective supported the conference’s goals of equipping young leaders to challenge misinformation, strengthen prevention knowledge, and create meaningful change across the commonwealth. When asked about the importance of youth-led initiatives, Carey Beth shared, "Industries count on young people not understanding the risks. When you use the data correctly, you take that power back."
In addition to speaking on the keynote panel, Carey Beth also served as a judge for the conference’s “Clear the Air Challenge” where groups of middle and high school students developed persuasive pitches to counter tobacco industry manipulation tactics. CHET's Acting Director Shyanika Rose, PhD, MA, whose research focuses on tobacco regulatory science, also served as a judge for the challenge.
Carey Beth graduated cum laude from the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and Lewis Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Human Health Sciences and certificate in Clinical Leadership and Management in May 2025. She is currently a research fellow with UK Healthcare Orthopedic Trauma Surgery, and will begin medical school at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Pikeville in the fall of 2026.
