Robert Indian, former chief of the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at the Ohio Department of Health, will speak from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Baker University Center Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room. 

During his talk, Indian will discuss the critical importance of community cancer assessments, including analyses of cancer clusters and the use of data to design and evaluate cancer prevention and control interventions.

This year, approximately 1.7 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed and more than 600,000 people will die from cancer in the United States. Cancer incidence has declined in much of the country since 1969 — but not in rural Appalachia. In all but one state, rural Appalachians had lower 3- and 5-year survival rates and more cancer-related deaths than their urban non-Appalachians.

The free and open to the public event will be hosted by the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Research Division. Light snacks will be provided.