Inspirational Story

What lead to you training to become a Podiatrist?

After gaining 11 GCSEs at C or above I took A level Biology , Chemistry and Maths in the hope of becoming a vet.

I failed my A levels miserably and ended up going to university on a science access course with the intention of doing a degree in Biology, my favourite subject and the only A level I actually passed.

Two friends on the access course were hoping to go on to a Podiatry degree – what is podiatry I asked? I looked into their course and the podiatrist at our local health centre allowed me to shadow her to see a day in her working life (we are still good friends to this day). I passed my access course and switched course last minute with some trepidation, what if I don’t like Podiatry? But the access course had shown me that lab work and possibly a Biology degree wasn’t for me, my 2 friends went on to do Chemistry degrees!

What has your career journey looked like since qualifying as a podiatrist?

I passed my degree with a 2:1 and started working for Airedale NHS Trust. I worked as a generic band 5 and then 6 podiatrist for 10 years during which time I started to specialise in biomechanics/musculoskeletal (MSK) – podiatry has many different specialist roles, as well as treating the high risk foot podiatrists can specialise in wounds, diabetes, they can prescribe, specialise in nail surgery and biomechanics/MSK. They can also go on to train to be podiatric surgeons undertaking orthopaedic surgery on the feet.

14 years ago I started working for Bradford District Care Trust and 2 years later a position came up for a specialist podiatrist post in biomechanics /MSK which I applied for and was successful at.

I have held this role ever since and love my job, I see patients from age 1-101 with lower limb pain or deformity, I assess their lower limb joint range of movement and gait (how they walk) and prescribe orthotics/insoles and exercises to treat. I work closely with MSK physios, consultants and orthopaedics and our department manages all foot and ankle problems with patients coming through podiatry for us to treat then onward refer for xray, USS/MRI, steroid injection surgery if required (GPs are unable to do this, it has to come through us). My role is very unique and there are only 3 of us in a team of 55 who do biomech/MSK full time.