Dr. Melissa Thomas is the Strategic Director of the American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable (ACS NBCRT), leading national initiatives to advance equity across the breast cancer continuum through partnerships, community engagement, and evidence-based strategies. A native of rural Appalachia Ohio, she founded the Center for Appalachia Research in Cancer Education (CARE) and Project Hoffnung (“Hope” in German), a multi-state Amish and Mennonite Breast Health Project that has served thousands of women across Ohio and beyond. As a certified Community Health Worker (CHW), Dr. Thomas has trained and employed CHWs from Amish, Mennonite, and Appalachian communities to support trusted, culturally sensitive care.
Formerly an Assistant Professor at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, she also served as Founding Director of the Office of Health Equity at one of Ohio’s largest healthcare systems. Her research examines patterns in cancer outcomes, food insecurity, community health worker models, and rural health.