Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computerized systems designed for the storage, retrieval and analysis of geographically referenced data. In other words, GIS maps all types of physical, biological, cultural, demographic, and economic information. The incorporation of GIS applications by health organizations has led to new and effective ways to visualize, organize, and manage a wide variety of information including administrative and medical data, social services, and patient information. Important examples of this use of GIS include efforts of public health agencies to map health events, identify disease clusters, investigate environmental health problems, and understand the spread of communicable and infectious disease.

This talk will highlight recent advances in the health-related uses of GIS, while providing specific examples of its application in improving our understanding of local, regional, and national health problems. We will highlight the influence of GIS on the interaction of health professionals with news media, government agencies, non-profit organizations, academics, and others interested in promoting community health. Because of the visual "accessibility" of GIS, it is a unique and powerful tool for informing citizens about local and national health issues. This "accessibility", along with the powerful analysis capabilities of GIS, render it an essential tool in the development of strategies to better define and approach health issues facing us today.