04/29/04

Massachusetts Registered Dietitian Named 2004-05 President of American Dietetic Association

Media contact: Doris Acosta
800/877-1600, ext. 4822
media@eatright.org

CHICAGO - Susan H. Laramee, a Rockport, Massachusetts, registered dietitian and director of professional relations at Sodexho Health Care Services, will begin her term June 1 as president of the American Dietetic Association.

Laramee will serve as the 79th president of ADA, the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, until May 31, 2005. She has been ADA’s president-elect since June 2003.

A dietetics professional for 35 years, Laramee previously was director of food and nutrition services at Northeast Hospital Corp. and general manager for Sodexho Health Care at three hospitals owned by the corporation. She has worked as manager of food and nutrition services at Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant professor at the hospital’s Institute of Health Professions.

Laramee has also worked as a district support dietitian for Sodexho responsible for technical and managerial support for clinical programs; and as a clinical nutrition manager responsible for overseeing clinical nutrition care of acute, long-term care and ambulatory patients.

Laramee said she will draw on her dietetics and business leadership backgrounds to build ADA’s leadership role and capabilities in the fields of food, nutrition and health. “With the leadership of ADA’s Board of Directors and the participation of all our members, we will make great strides in achieving ADA’s mission of leading the future of dietetics,” Laramee said.

“That will mean, among other high priorities, developing our members’ leadership capabilities, enhancing professional opportunities and members’ ability to adapt to an ever-changing health-care environment and increasing the diversity of ADA’s membership.”

During her career, Laramee has held numerous ADA leadership positions including member of the House of Delegates and Board of Directors. She has chaired ADA’s Honors; Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo Program Planning; Publications; State Affiliates; and Association Positions committees.

Laramee is a past president of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association and past chair of ADA’s Pediatric Nutrition dietetic practice group. She received the Massachusetts Distinguished Dietitian of the Year Award in 1989 and ADA’s 1996 Medallion Award for her lifetime of service to the dietetics profession. She has written or co-written dozens of publications on food and nutrition services. A graduate of Syracuse University, Laramee earned a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from Boston University.

With nearly 70,000 members, the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association serves the public by promoting optimal health and well-being for all people. Visit ADA at www.eatright.org.

Editor’s note: To arrange a media interview with Susan H. Laramee, call 800/877-1600, ext. 4822, or e-mail media@eatright.org. Photo is available on request.