Bethany Thayer

As the Director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Henry Ford Health, Bethany Thayer is a dedicated leader in health promotion and nutrition, recognized for her commitment to expanding access to preventive services in both clinical and community settings. She is instrumental in delivering wellness programs for individuals, employers and organizational partners, and actively collaborates with health departments, funders and community-based organizations to ensure diverse populations are reached.

A registered dietitian nutritionist, Bethany provides leadership in health promotion, public policy, and community health strategy. She is deeply involved in continually improving how care is delivered in her field.

Throughout her distinguished career, Bethany has supported her profession through notable leadership roles, serving as President of the Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and being elected as a National Leader for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has been honored with awards such as Michigan Outstanding Dietitian of the Year and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Medallion Award.

Bethany is also a prolific writer and spokesperson for evidence-based nutrition. She contributed weekly to the Detroit Free Press Healthy Table column and is a frequent contributor to the Henry Ford LiveWell blog. Her culinary creativity has resulted in the development of hundreds of recipes, compiled into three cookbooks published by the Detroit Free Press.

Bethany has conducted more than a thousand media interviews with local, national, and international television and radio stations, as well as major publications including USA Today, Ladies Home Journal, Shape, and Self magazine.

Her influence extends to public service: in 2021, Bethany was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the Governor’s Board of Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and serves as vice-chair on the Board of the Michigan Fitness Foundation. In 2025, after successfully shepherding a new law in Michigan to license the practice of medical nutrition therapy, she was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the inaugural Michigan Board of Dietetics and Nutrition, where she serves as chair.

Bethany earned a Bachelor’s in Dietetics from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Exercise Science from Oakland University. A proud alumna of OU, she is honored to join the School of Health Sciences Board of Advocacy and Resource Development, supporting students and advancing innovative health programs.