Michael J. Thun, M.D., M.S.
Vice President of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research
American Cancer Society
Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Thun received a B.A. degree from Harvard College, an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. He has worked for twenty-eight years in epidemiology and disease prevention, first as a Medical Officer investigating toxic exposures at the New Jersey State Health Department, and then as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and staff scientist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1980-1988). In 1989, Dr. Thun became Director of Analytic Epidemiology for the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Atlanta. Since 1998 he has served as Vice President of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, overseeing both cancer surveillance and studies on the causes and prevention of cancer. His research covers a wide range of issues within cancer epidemiology, including studies on the potential of aspirin as an anti-cancer agent, alcohol, obesity, the effects of active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke, and genetic and environmental risk factors for cancers. He is the author of approximately 300 publications, book chapters, books, and published proceedings. Dr. Thun has served on many advisory groups including the Institute of Medicine and the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Cancer Institute. He is an adjunct professor at the Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health and Winship Cancer Center.