Cancer, heart disease, and stroke are all ailments linked to smoking and among the reasons why Vanderbilt Medical Center administration has decided to ban smoking from the Medical Center campus beginning Sept. 1.

According to a story from the Vanderbilt News Network, the ban will do away with all designated smoking areas on campus. At the same time the Medical Center will increase the "smoke patrol," employees who enforce the ban by ushering smokers to areas where they can light up, mainly sidewalks surrounding the campus.

In addition to the ban, the Medical Center will offer support resources to employees who want to quit smoking including a full time hotline, 936-QUIT, that offers staff advice on how to kick the habit.