Dr. Cynthia Thomson

Cynthia Thomson, PhD, RD, CSO, has joined the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, as professor of public health and director of the Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion (CRCPHP).

Dr. Thomson brings to the position more than 20 years of clinical and research experience in diet, obesity and cancer. She is a nationally recognized expert in the area of diet and health, having served as a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, and she co-authored the American Cancer Society consumer book for diet, physical activity and cancer prevention guidance for survivors of cancer.

Dr. Thomson has been an active researcher and clinician at the UA since 1992. She comes to the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health from the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she led several dietary intervention trials and directed the Graduate Program. These experiences make her uniquely positioned to advance the goals of the CRCPHP to improve the health of Tucson through effective and strategic research, interventions, community engagement, outreach and new, innovative training programs.

The center is dedicated to helping individuals find a greater sense of well-being in their lives by offering unique and innovative programs to promote optimal health. Dr. Thomson said she has spent her entire adult life as a resident of Tucson and is committed to enhancing the health of its citizens.

“Our commitment is to establish Tucson as the national site for wellness,” said Thomson. “We aim to help the people of our community achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle through evidence-based, community based outreach programs. We seek to support individuals and programming that result in improved health with an emphasis on healthy food choices and regular physical activity.”

Dr. Thomson received her PhD from the Interdisciplinary Program in Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona. In 2001, she completed an NCI-sponsored post-doctoral training at the Arizona Cancer Center in cancer prevention.