Anne Thomas Appointed Vice President, Public Affairs

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Monday, 3 June 2002

Anne Thomas has been named Vice President, Public Affairs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Thomas will oversee a wide range of communications efforts including media relations, website design and content, publications, community affairs, and special events.

"Anne brings a wealth of communications expertise to MSKCC," said MSKCC president Harold Varmus. "Her leadership and diverse communications skills will be of enormous benefit to the Center, our patients and the public," he added.

Previously, Thomas was Associate Director for Communications at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she held a variety of communications positions in a career spanning more than 30 years. In addition, she has also handled the media and public aspects of many sensitive policy issues ranging from stem cell research to the protection of human subjects in biomedical research. She also worked with officials from the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Congress, and other health and science agencies to advance the NIH's policy and science initiatives.

According to Tony Mazzaschi, Vice President for Research at the Association of American Medical Colleges, Thomas's communications expertise is dynamic and effective. "She has been very successful in helping the NIH shape and define its key messages," he said.

Thomas succeeds Avice Meehan, who is now Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Thomas graduated from The Pennsylvania State University's School of Journalism and received a master's degree from the American University School of Business Administration.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Our scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Our specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide.

For more information, or to contact Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, see their website at: www.mskcc.org