Hosted by the BDA Prehabilitation Sub-Group
What is prehabilitation, why does it matter, and what role can dietitians and other clinicians play in making it a success?
This webinar will introduce the principles of prehabilitation, exploring the latest evidence and guidance underpinning this growing area of practice. Through a side-by-side comparison of two very different prehabilitation services, we’ll showcase the breadth of approaches that can be delivered and demonstrate how services can be adapted to different settings, populations and resources.
We’ll also be joined by Dr Alex Mitchell, who will share insights into inclusivity in prehabilitation, drawing on her PhD work and exploring how we can make prehabilitation more accessible and equitable for all.
Whether you’re a student or newly qualified dietitian looking to build your knowledge, a dietitian working outside prehabilitation who wants to develop new skills, or an experienced practitioner looking to broaden your perspective, this session will offer practical insights and inspiration for your practice.
All dietitians and multidisciplinary team (MDT) colleagues are welcome.
Speakers
- Jon Ellis
Jon Ellis is the Clinical Lead Dietitian for Prehabilitation at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. Establishing this new service in early 2024, Jon supports cancer patients to optimise their nutritional status in preparation for major surgery or oncological treatment. After completing his Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics at Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2018, Jon’s previous roles included working across enteral feeding, community and outpatient dietetics specialities. Jon has a special interest in the use of body composition technology to inform and improve clinical decision-making.
- Megan Pattwell
Megan Pattwell is a specialist dietitian at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, where she works in the Senior Adult Oncology Programme. In her role, she provides expert nutritional assessment and tailored dietary interventions, alongside other multidisciplinary interventions, to help prehabilitate adults aged 65 years and above for systemic anti-cancer treatments, optimise treatment outcomes, maintain independence, and improve quality of life. Alongside her clinical work, Megan is an emerging researcher in oncology nutrition, having completed a pre-doctoral fellowship in 2025, and is currently working towards undertaking a doctorate. She is the lead author of a systematic review examining nutritional interventions for the treatment of sarcopenia in older adults with cancer and completed a clinical trial exploring how body composition changes during systemic anti-cancer treatment. This work reflects her particular interest in the impact of nutrition on body composition, physical function, treatment tolerance, and healthy ageing in cancer care.
- Guest speaker: Dr Alex Mitchell
Alex is a registered dietitian and researcher. In her current role as Research Associate at Cardiff University, she works on an NIHR-funded project on inclusive prehabilitation for cancer patients. Alex completed her PhD in 2021 at the University of Bristol, NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, on dietary advice and management for people with an ileostomy. Before this, she worked clinically as an acute hospital dietitian, with experience in multiple specialities including trauma and critical care, respiratory, gastroenterology, and surgery. Alex has published her research in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. She is the research lead for the BDA gastro group.
Cost
- Oncology Specialist Group members - Free
- BDA student members - free
- BDA members - £5
- Non members - £10
Admin code: SLA
