Sandy Thames

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Program of Cancer Registries
4770 Buford Highway
Mailstop K53
Atlanta, GA
USA 30341
Email: sthames@cdc.gov

Biographical Sketch:
1990-1993: Management Information Specialist, Epidemiology and Statistics Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC 1993-1999: Computer Specialist, Program Services Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC 1999-2002: Public Health Advisor, Program Services Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC 2002-2004: Public Health Advisor, Environmental Health Tracking Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, NCEH, CDC 2004-current: Public Health Advisor, Cancer Surveillance Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC Publications: Thames SF, Gerlach K, Martin HJ, Carney T, Penberthy LT, Lanzilotta M, Peace S. Introduction to the National Program of Cancer Registries – Modeling Electronic Reporting Project (NPCR-MERP). Journal of Registry Management, Fall Issue, 2006. Benard VB, Eheman CR, Lawson HW, Blackman DK, Anderson C, Helsel W, Thames SF, Lee NC. Cervical Screening in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program 1995-2001. Obstet Gynecol 2004 103: 564-571. Bobo JK, Lee NC, Thames SF. Findings From 752,081 Clinical Breast Examinations Reported to a National Screening Program 1995 Through 1998. J Natl Cancer Inst 2000; 92: 971-976. Lawson HW, Lee NC, Thames SF, Henson R, Miller DS. Cervical Cancer Screening Among Low-Income Women: Results of a National Screening Program 1991-1995. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey March 1999, Vol 54, Issue 3: 176. Ms. Thames is currently with the Cancer Surveillance Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She is the Lead on the NPCR-Modeling Electronic Reporting Project that is developing a consensus model for cancer surveillance. The consensus model describes methods for enhancement of business processes and data exchange protocols that will improve the completeness, timeliness, and quality of cancer data. The project activities will identify opportunities to use electronic health records for cancer registry reporting. She serves as the liaison to the CDC Public Health Information Network (PHIN)/National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) informatics activities. Ms. Thames participates on the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) workgroups that are focused on moving forward the development of an electronic health record and the secure exchange of standardized patient information across the healthcare community. She has been with the CDC since 1989 and has spent most of that time providing expertise in the areas of data management, computer programming, informatics, and network administration for cancer prevention and control and environmental health programs.