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Professor Neil Gittoes appointed as our new Chair of Trustees
Head office
09 Dec 2019
Professor Neil Gittoes, Consultant Endocrinologist and Metabolic Bone Physician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, has been appointed as our new Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Professor Gittoes takes over from Kate Tompkins, who is retiring after 10 successful years in the role.
Mrs Tompkins, a clinician with an executive leadership background in health, became a trustee in 2009 and was appointed Chair of the Board in 2012. During her time as trustee, she served as Chair of the Members and Volunteers Committee (2009-2012), leading the invaluable work of the group and enabling the voice of members and volunteers to be heard in all aspects of our work, including the strategic role and joint meetings with the Clinical Committee.
She has also overseen huge change within the ROS during her tenure, the biggest of which was the creation of the Osteoporosis and Bone Research Academy and the subsequent granting of a rare protected Royal title in February 2019.
“The Royal title clearly demonstrates that we are recognised as the UK experts in osteoporosis and acknowledges the important contribution we have made over the past three decades to people suffering from this condition,” explains Mrs Tompkins.
“I have every confidence that the future strategic direction the ROS is embarking on will lead to better bone health for everybody and, eventually, to a cure so nobody has to live with the pain, suffering and fear osteoporosis causes,” she adds.
“I am delighted that Prof Gittoes is taking over the role of Chair. He has the qualities and experience to ensure the ROS continues to support its beneficiaries and encourage policy makers to make the disease a priority on the health care agenda.”
Prof Gittoes, who joined the Board in July 2015, has extensive experience in developing bone health services in Birmingham, and was instrumental in introducing a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) in the area – the first FLS in the country to be developed around the then NOS’s Clinical Standards for Fracture Liaison Services.
He is also the Chair of the ROS’s Clinical and Scientific Committee and has had widespread experience in other senior leadership roles, many of which have had a strong governance component.
“This is an incredibly exciting period for the ROS and, following on from my long history with the charity, I am looking forward to building on the excellent foundation that Mrs Tompkins has established.
“The addition of prevention and cure to our strategic direction will give those living with the condition a louder voice and will help us achieve our aim - a world without osteoporosis.”
