Podiatrist

I divide my time between my fellowship and my principal podiatrist role for the diabetic foot clinic. I am completing my PhD part-time over five years and only have 18 months to go. The time has flown by and its hard to remember a time before the fellowship. It can be difficult sometimes managing conflicting priorities, but I would do it all again.

I spent the first year doing a lot of training in preparation for my research. Since then and with the support of my supervisory team and clinical trials unit I have been developing and undertaking a multi-site clinical feasibility trial. I could never have imagined being able to take the lead on this prior to the fellowship. It’s exciting, daunting, and busy but also rewarding.

What I have found so inspiring is how keen patients are to take part in trials and contribute to improving future treatment for others.

I qualified as a podiatrist in 1996 and subsequently completed my Postgraduate Diploma. In 2002 I was appointed to the role of principal podiatrist. I work in a large innovative diabetes team which has a strong research culture. The multidisciplinary team at the hospital have encouraged and supported my role as it has developed. Over the last 10 years I have been involved in several national and international wound healing trials.

I became involved at a national level working to improve outcomes for people with diabetes and foot complications. I was a member of the Guideline Development Group for diabetic foot problems: prevention and management NICE guidelines (2015), and have since continued working as Expert Adviser for the NICE Centre for Guidelines.

Undertaking research and developing evidence based guidelines highlighted to me that much of the healthcare we provide is still based on expert opinion. This fellowship is an opportunity for me to work towards improving the evidence base and ultimately improving the outcomes for people.