Professor Alka Ahuja MBE has become the new chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales and a vice president of RCPsych.
Previous chair, Dr Maria Atkins demitted her role in June having served a four-year term.
Alka Ahuja is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatry at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and is national clinical lead for the Welsh Government Technology Enabled Care Centre.
She previously held several roles in RCPsych Wales Devolved Council, including chair of the Child and Adolescent Faculty and public engagement officer.
She was also the vice chair for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry faculty at the RCPsych, until recently.
Professor Ahuja is a visiting professor at University of South Wales and an honorary professor at Cardiff University.
Her interests include qualitative research, neurodevelopmental disorders and co-production in healthcare and digital health. She has published in peer reviewed journals and was awarded an MBE for her services to the NHS during the pandemic.
In the past, she completed her psychiatry training in India and worked as a lecturer and researcher at Mumbai University.
Her research and writing in psychosocial issues in street children in India have been recognised nationally and internationally.
Prof Alka Ahuja MBE, said:
“I am honoured and delighted to take the role of chair for the RCPsych in Wales and look forward to working with the college and colleagues to improve mental health services for patients and professionals in Wales"
Sonia Walter, chief executive of the College, said:
“We’re delighted Alka has taken on the role of chair at RCPsych in Wales.
“She has already proven herself to be a wonderful leader in her previous roles and she has a strong vision for improving mental health services in Wales”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: oliver.john@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Web: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/wales
- Contact Name: Ollie John
- Twitter: @RCPsychWales
- Out-of-hours contact number: 02922 33 1080