Podiatry 2024: Speakers F - N

Rachel Forss graduated as a podiatrist in 1995 from the University of Brighton and completed an MSc in podiatry in 2003. After graduating she worked for the NHS at East Sussex Health Care Trust for 18 years, 13 of those as the Wound Care lead within the Podiatry department.

Since 2013 Rachel has been working at the University of Brighton and is now the Course leader for the MSc Podiatry (pre-registration) course.

Rachel has research interests in wound healing, exudate viscosity and most recently how microgravity conditions affect wound healing.

Sally took a while to find her calling. After school she completed a degree in linguistics, then moved into a career in complementary therapy. It was reflexology that piqued her interest in feet and motivated her to retrain as a podiatrist.

Since qualifying, Sally has gained patient experience following complications from Covid, and has moved sideways into research where she is pursuing a PhD at the University of Southampton as part of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

She is proud to be chair of the College’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group.

 

David is a Specialist in Podiatric Sports Medicine who practices across the City of London and Surrey.

Born and trained in Brisbane, Australia, David has been living and working in the UK for several years. Since being in the UK David has graduated from QMUL’s prestigious MSc in Sport and Exercise Medicine with a distinction.

He is a part of the executive board for the Podiatric Sports Medicine Specialist Advisory Group and was this year appointed as a Fellow with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow.

In his spare time David loves to spend time traveling with his wife and Border Collie and compete in Kettlebell Sport.

Rebecca Hargreaves graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2001 and has worked within the independent sector ever since.

Gaining her PgCert in Clinical Biomechanics from Stafford University in 2003, Rebecca has grown her practice to span over three locations currently employing 15 team members and providing podiatry services across York, Selby and surrounding areas.

With a passion for wellbeing, learning and professional and personal development, Rebecca's focus is now on effective leadership of her team and supporting others in their learning and development.

As an active committee member of the North Yorkshire Branch for over 14 years, Rebecca has held a variety of posts and is currently Chair.

Rebecca is an elected member on the Royal College of Podiatry's Independent Practice Group (IPG), IPG representative on Clinical Senate and a registered RCPod mentor.

Katie qualified as a podiatrist in 2002 and has worked both in the NHS and private practice. 

She has worked for the Royal College of Podiatry since 2012 and is currently one of the College's Professional Support Officers.  

She is qualified in Employment Law and as an Expert Witness.  

She is also a Board Director of the Labour Research Department.

Phil graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2007 and began his career in the NHS, where he dedicated nine years to advancing patient care and professional practice. Starting as a Band 5 podiatrist, Phil progressed to the role of Clinical Lead: Podiatry and Tissue Viability.

Now Academic Lead for Podiatry at the University of Plymouth, Phil oversees three distinct pathways into the podiatry profession: the traditional undergraduate degree and two innovative blended delivery apprenticeship degree programmes. With a passion for education and workforce development, Phil is committed to shaping the future of podiatry by fostering the next generation of skilled practitioners.

Keri works as a programme manager for Public Health Wales and Clinical Lead for the additional AHP Investment Fund for the Strategic Programme for Primary Care, providing professional leadership, advice and support to health board regions, on a national basis, relating to implementation of projects associated with the All-Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme and the AHP investment fund across Primary and Community Care.

Keri is a podiatrist with over 25 years' experience working across health and social care and in the higher education sector (as a senior lecturer and honorary senior lecturer) in a breadth of roles that demonstrate authenticity and experience. She is passionate about AHPs utilising their unique skillset to support working at the top of their licence and demonstrating their value and impact.

Keri has recently been elected to the Royal College of Podiatry Council and is Chair of the Royal College of Podiatry Public Health Network.

Sina Kahen hails from the AI and medical tech industries with experience spanning strategy, design, and innovation across a decade in over 50 countries. He is also a successful author, having published a number of books, including Brief insights on medical robotics.

He is a thought-leader in conversational AI, and a keynote speaker on artificial intelligence, the pursuit of meaning, the future of healthcare, and the links between emotions and technology. With a professional journey spanning over a decade, Sina has built an impressive portfolio across product management, international sales, and R&D, and has consulted both established and start-up companies.

A qualified Biomedical Scientist with an MBA, Sina has authored influential books on robotics and philosophy. He led the commercialisation of one of the UK’s first robotic healthcare technologies and as co-founder and CEO of VAICE he advises organisations on disruptive trends, innovation strategy, and the future of work.

When Sina takes the podium as a speaker, or as a workshop leader, he brings his extensive knowledge and insight to topics like AI, healthcare, intrapreneurship, and the pursuit of meaning. He helps companies innovate and start-ups break out, and has worked with companies including Amazon, the BBC, Google, Imperial College, O2, Shell, and Novateur Ventures.

Steve qualified as a podiatrist in 1982 in Manchester. On completion of his studies he moved to London taking up a post at City and Hackney District Health Authority. He took a keen interest in the diabetic and rheumatoid foot and became involved in a number of collaborative research projects. In 1982 he began a three-year part-time course in Traditional Chinese Medicine; he qualified as an acupuncturist in 1985 and practised for more than 20 years.

In 1985 he began a Masters research degree and established a multi centre clinical trial on plantar fasciitis. His thesis on Heel pain: an investigation into its aetiology and management was submitted and accepted by the Council for National Academic Awards for an MPhil degree in 1990.

In 1992 he was appointed as a part-time clinical tutor in podiatry at the University of Westminster. He also took a post at the Royal Free Hospital as podiatrist to the Orthopaedic and Rheumatology Departments. During this period he developed an interest in foot problems associated with Scleroderma and connective tissue diseases.

He started his surgical training in 1992 and in 1996 was awarded Fellowship of the Podiatry Association. In 2000 he was appointed as a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon. He is now retired from surgical practice.

He is an expert witness with the Parliamentary Clinical Ombudsman and continues to practise as a podiatrist seeing both NHS and private patients in the independent sector.

 

Richard Leigh is Consultant Podiatrist at the Royal Free Hospital and visiting Professor to Perm State Medical University (PSMU).

He specialises in acute foot care, especially conditions related to diabetes, vascular pathology and neurological problems and continues to research and publish in these and other lower-limb related fields.

Richard is a Director and Council Member of the Royal College of Podiatry. He is chair of the English Diabetes Footcare Network and also chairs the Diabetes and At Risk Foot Expert Reference Group for London and the South East.

He is clinical lead for NHSE (London) and co-chairs the London Foot Care Network and the Work-stream for NHSE (London). He is a member of the London Clinical Senate Council.

Outside work Richard enjoys classical music, cooking, ballroom/latin dancing and hill walks.

Emma qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist at Birmingham University in 1998 and has worked predominantly with children, running services for both pre-school and school-age children across London. More recently she has worked at City University supporting student speech and language therapists and also practices as a life coach. Emma is married and mum to three young and active children.

Emma was born with Cerebral Palsy and has seen a significant decline in her mobility in recent years leading to several surgeries and having to give up work. It was her frustration at the lack of knowledge and understanding of Cerebral Palsy as a disability affecting adults that spurred her on to begin campaigning. In 2018 she founded the charity Adult Cerebral Palsy Hub, now renamed Up – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement, to campaign for better support and services and give voice to the adult Cerebral Palsy community.

Eryn London is the programme manager for Schwartz Rounds at the Point of Care Foundation. Additionally, she teaches pastoral care and chaplaincy in higher education settings.

Eryn is an ordained rabbi and board certified chaplain. She has experience working in various settings of care, such as senior residential facilities, hospitals and hospices.

 

Professor Jane McAdam is Chair of Council of the Royal College of Podiatry, and Associate Dean Enterprise and Engagement at the University of Salford.

She worked privately in Australia, and then joined the NHS working in various roles in London and Salford – overall working as clinician for over 25 years. Her areas of interest are biomechanics, orthotics and pressure relief, which includes complex high risk patients as well as providing stock, modular and bespoke footwear. She is an appointed Governor to the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester.

In her role at the University of Salford, Jane is part of the senior management team for the School of Health & Society, with senior executive responsibility for the School across strategic and operational key performance indicators.

Janet McGroggan MSc graduated from the University of Ulster in 2003 and has worked in private practice ever since, initially in Northern Ireland and then in Cheshire where her family relocated.

She gained an MSc in Podiatry from Queen Mary University in 2009 and opened her own practice in 2014. 

Janet now employs three podiatrists, a podiatry assistant, and a team of four clinical assistants who take care of the reception and the day-to-day running of the business.  

Stride Clinic provides clinic appointments, domiciliary appointments and visits 10 care homes in the area.

The clinic offers a full range of treatments from general footcare to biomechanical assessments.

My name is Gareth and I am an MSK podiatrist. I got my Bsc(Hons) in Podiatry at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2007 and then went on to study and gain a PgDip in Podiatric Surgery at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. 

I got my PgCert with CASE accreditation in lower limb ultrasound at AECC University in Bournemouth.

Putting this into practice, I run my own clinic, Happy Feet NI, where I manage a caseload of wide-ranging lower limb pathologies of all age groups and work with sports teams both amateur and semi-professional in a wide range of sports. 

I am a teaching clinic for several universities offering placements for their podiatry students and I also run a podiatry CPD company called POD CPD NI, that offers podiatry-specific training to podiatrists across Ireland.

I am a former member of the Northern Ireland Royal College of Podiatry Branch where I helped for several years.

Bente has worked in a range of roles in social care for nearly 40 years. Combining experience with academic and vocational qualifications Bente currently works across the sector in Northern Ireland  as a trainer and educator, as well as providing expertise and support in the areas of policy and strategy development, quality assurance and organisational change.

Bente has a special interest in the area of mental health awareness and support, and provides Mental Health First Aid training, both in workplace settings and to individuals and self-employed professionals.

Emma graduated from University of Northampton in 2002. After a couple of years working for Scholl, she gained a graduate role in the NHS. Over Emma’s 20-year career she has worked in specialist high risk and wound care roles before venturing into the ‘dark side’ of operational management.

Emma is currently Head of Service for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) which provides podiatry services to the majority of North Yorkshire and York.

Emma also holds an AHP Lead role within HDFT that links into the ICB AHP strategic networks, holding a seat on the AHP Faculty.

Most recently Emma has been elected onto the Royal College of Podiatry Council and is really grateful to have been given the opportunity to support members and drive our profession forwards