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Susan Price, Associate Director of Inclusion and practicing dietitian at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), has been appointed new Chair of the British Dietetic Association (BDA).

A historic appointment for two reasons; Susan is the first Chair of the BDA who is of Black heritage, and is also the first Allied Health Professional from UHB to become Chair of this particular Professional Body.

Susan took up her first dietitian role as a graduate at the old Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1995 and has worked as a dietitian in multiple specialties during her almost 30-year career, including in leadership roles. In recent years, Susan has pursued her passion for diversity and inclusion, taking up a new role within the Trust whilst maintaining her clinical expertise and close ties to the profession. Her support for the BDA led to her appointment as Chair designate in September 2023, before the opportunity to become Chair arose.  

Susan said: "It is a huge privilege and honour to be appointed Chair of my Professional Association and I am very excited to be able to work with my fellow AHP Chairs across the UK.

“I’ll always be a dietitian first and foremost – I fell in love with the profession many years ago and that hasn’t changed. I’m looking forward to using my clinical experience to represent dietitians across Great Britain, and will no doubt gain new expertise in the process!”

Jonathan Brotherton, Chief Executive at UHB, said: “A huge congratulations to Susan on her new appointment as Chair of the BDA. Susan’s commitment to representing and developing the role of the dietitian, whilst wearing a number of other hats for us here at UHB, is truly commendable. I’ve no doubt that our patients and colleagues alike will benefit from Susan’s new position.”

Liz Stockley, CEO of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) said, “We couldn’t be happier to have Susan as our Chair for the next two years. Susan’s passion for the dietetic profession is clear in everything she does and we feel confident that under her direction we will grow, not only in terms of our membership but also as a professional body and trade union.

“Susan is a committed member of the BDA having volunteered on different committees and boards, including being instrumental in establishing our EDI Committee. She brings a breadth of dietetic experience and a commitment to making dietetics a more diverse and inclusive profession. We’re very excited to see where she takes us.”

Susan will continue as Director of Inclusion at UHB, taking on the BDA Chair role on a part-time basis.