77th Tobacco Science Research Conference

September 14-17, 2025Knoxville Convention CenterKnoxville, Tennessee USA

Kim "Skip" Murray

Kim “Skip” Murray is a public health advocate, freelance writer, and Direct Support Professional who brings decades of lived experience to the conversation around tobacco policy, mental health, and disability justice. She uses her personal journey—including her experiences as a person who uses nicotine products, a former vape shop owner, and a caregiver—to elevate the voices often left out of public health discourse.Skip is a co-founder and content creator of the Safer Nicotine Wiki, an independent educational platform that empowers individuals and communities with evidence-based information about nicotine and health. She also writes Skip’s Corner - A Safe Place to Talk About Hard Things, a Substack newsletter, where she tackles complex topics such as trauma, chronic illness, stigma, and tobacco-related policy. Her approach is defined by compassion, integrity, and a relentless focus on reducing suffering.In 2023, Skip completed the Rutgers Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program and now volunteers as a peer facilitator for a community-based smoking cessation support group. She leverages this formal training along with her prior vape shop experience to offer a unique, multifaceted approach to helping others transition away from combustible tobacco.Whether in professional settings or grassroots circles, Skip speaks openly about the intersection of neurodiversity, addiction, disability, and dignity. She is deeply committed to inclusive, science-informed public health policy—and to making sure people with lived experience are not just heard, but valued.