My career to date
I have been a podiatrist for almost 46 years. It is a career that has spanned many changes in life but especially in health care.
I grew up in a family of chiropodists, with both my parents working in the foot care industry. I always had a keen interest in science, so when I went to high school, I studied three sciences. When I was 17 I had to make the decision about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I decided to study Biochemistry at Paisley Technical College. After a year on the course, I decided it wasn’t for me. My parents suggested I give chiropody a try and as they say, the rest is history.
I graduated with a diploma in Podiatric Medicine from the Edinburgh Foot Clinic in 1979. After graduation, I wanted to further my clinical skills and joined NHS Lothian as a chiropodist. I thoroughly enjoyed this job and liked working in a variety of settings from clincis, to home visits and psychiatric hospital. It was working in the hospital I thrived under the mentorship of Mr Frank Laidlaw. Frank was an excellent chiropodist and taught me invaluable skills. Aside from the relationships I nurtured with my fellow chiropodists and patients, I also enjoyed working in a multi-disciplinary team with other professionals. I made some great friends and many of whom I still talk to to this day. I left after 7 years to continue to pursue my career in independent practice.
I worked in my family clinic with my father, which at the time was located at 25 Orchard Street. It was a busy two chair clinic provided routine foot care to Falkirk and the surrounding areas. I also did home visits for patients who were unable to make it to our clinic. At the time my mother provided contractual chiropody services to businesses such as Marks and Spencer and the NHS. In 1984 my mother retired followed by my father in 1987, and left the business to me. By that time, I had married a chiropodist, my beautiful wife Dawn, who was in the year below me at the Edinburgh Foot Clinic. We had two daughters, Emma and Nikki.
In 1988, I decided to expand and improve our clinical settings, and purchased 14 Kerse Lane. I renovated the clinic in my spare time to produce a two chair clinic with a waiting area. This is still the same building our clinic is in today but we have renovated and expanded over the years into neighbouring buildings. We now have a five chair clinic with an orthotics lab, instrument sterilisation suite, staff room and office. We also have our sister Bo’ness clinic, First For Footcare, which we expanded and renovated in 2022. Which is a three chair clinic, with sterilisation suite and staff room with kitchen. I am so proud of what we have achieved over the past 36 years.
In 2010, my daughter Nikki joined the practice as a podiatrist and continued our legacy into a third generation.
My career has brought me many trials and tribulations, but with it great pleasure. I believe that podiatry is my vocation. The thing I love most about my job is meeting people, learning about them and their families, whilst providing them with an essential service. I think the most important part of my job is providing pain relief for sore feet. It is a privilage to provide this service to our patients, in a professional and caring manner. I still enjoy being challenged in my job. I attend conferences and courses regularly, learning about ways I can improve my practice. I also take an avid interest in the latest technology and equipment in podiatry, and how I can integrate that into my practice to enhance our patient journey and care. More recently, Nikki introduced me to Event Podiatry, which involves providing immediate foot care to people participating in long distance events. This often involves treating patients in a make shift clinic in a tent in a field, it is definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I really enjoyed this as it amalgamated my love of the outdoors with my experience in foot care.
When I am not working, the team affectionally call me the ‘Maintenance Man’. You’ll often find me with a screwdriver or paint brush in hand managing the building maintenance. I have also taken on the role of project manager and labourer when the situation allows. I have always loved the great outdoors and I am a keen hill-walker and skier. These are hobbies my parents also enjoyed when I was a child growing up which they used as an escapism from their busy working lives. I have a rough collie, Louie, who comes on some of my adventures with me. My most recent challenge was climbing Ben Nevis overnight to raise essential funds for Strathcarron Hospice.
As my peers are considering retirement, I will continue to work as long as I still have passion for providing excellent patient care.
