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The STAT program was initiated in the Fall of 2000 by the Texas Medical Association - Medical Student Section (TMA-MSS) chapter, the Class of 2003, and the Class of 2004 at the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine (COM) in College Station, Texas. Initial funding was provided by the Texas Medical Association Foundation and The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center. The TMA-MSS 2000-1 officers desired to develop a tobacco prevention and cessation program in the local community. Local seventh grade students were selected as the target audience since research demonstrated that tobacco use begins early and substantially increases during the middle school years. The TMA-MSS officers worked diligently through the Fall of 2000 to create the program curriculum, and STAT was officially kicked off in conjunction with the Great American Smoke-out in November, 2000. The initial year included four student assemblies, 60 classroom visits, and a citywide Public Service Announcement contest. The program reached approximately 1400 seventh grade students in Bryan and College Station, Texas. 
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