OhioHealth Research Institute
3545 Olentangy River Road, Suite 328
Columbus
OHUSA
43214
Biographical Sketch: Dr. Melissa Thomas began has devoted her career to cancer control among underserved populations. She has spent the last 14 years at OhioHealth, which is one of the largest healthcare providers in Ohio. She served as program manager of the NCI-funded Appalachia Cancer Network from 2000-2005, a community-based participatory research project that addressed the disproportionately high cancer rates found in the Appalachian region of the United States. Dr. Thomas has received research funding and donations in excess of $1.5 MM and serves as Principal Investigator on a number of research studies aimed at reducing the burden of breast cancer through culturally-competent breast health education programs. Her work with childhood obesity began over a year ago in collaboration with William White, a former NFL/Superbowl player committed to reducing adult-onset health issues among African American inner-city youth in central Ohio.
Dr. Thomas has been recognized nationally for her work in cancer control among the underserved and was awarded the Intercultural Cancer Council’s “HOPE” award in 2006 for her community outreach efforts. She currently serves as Manager of Health Equity at the OhioHealth Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio.