The Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance has appointed a new Medical Director, Miss Susannah Penney.
Susannah is a consultant head, neck and thyroid surgeon at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, a position she has held since 2012. She has also held the post of Associate Medical Director for the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance since 2018, following three years as clinical lead for the head and neck cancer pathway.
Susannah trained at The University of Manchester Medical School and qualified in 1999. After completing basic surgical training at the Royal Bolton Hospital, she embarked on a career in Otolaryngology, a medical specialty which is focused on the ear, nose and throat. Susannah specialised in head and neck cancer following an 18-month placement at the Christie Hospital and completed general otolaryngology training in the North-West deanery. She then went on to complete a one-year prestigious fellowship in head and neck cancer surgery before her current appointment at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
Speaking about the appointment, Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance Managing Director, Claire O’Rourke said:
“Susi has already been a key member of the leadership team at the Cancer Alliance over the past six years, in her role as Associate Medical Director. She is a passionate and inspirational leader, putting the care of cancer patients at the heart of all her work. We are delighted to have her on board as Medical Director and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Susi to deliver the best possible outcomes and experiences for people affected by cancer in Greater Manchester, supported by our brilliant GM Cancer team. I’ve no doubt that she will be a massive asset to the Cancer Alliance, and we are honoured to have her in this role.”
Susannah said:
“I’m delighted to be taking up this post. Over the past 10 years the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance has made huge steps in improving patient experiences and outcomes in Greater Manchester but there is still a lot of work to do. I’m looking forward to using my skills and experience both as a consultant surgeon, seeing patients every day, and as Associate Medical Director to lead the cancer alliance in improving services across the board, including earlier and faster diagnosis, better treatment and personalised care for everyone.”
Miss Penney replaces Professor David Shackley who has stepped down this summer after leading the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance for the last 10 years.
