Following in the family footsteps
From a young age I always knew I wanted to do a job that involved helping people. I remember as a child trying to convince family members to play games of Drs and nurses with me. Sticking plasters on imaginary wounds and listening to hearts with my plastic stethoscope. I had grown up in a family where both my parents and grandparents were Podiatrists, so I was used to hearing discussions about people’s health and the family business at the dinner table. As a pre-school child I remember visiting a nursing home with my mum as I sat on a big chair being fed biscuits by a line of patients waiting to have their feet treated. My Mum’s clinic was annex from our family home, as it still is to this day, so I was used to being in and around a clinical setting.
As I grew up I was really interested in learning about the sciences, especially human biology. So when it came to make my subject choices in 2nd year of high school it was an easy decision to take three sciences. Unlike a lot of people my age I knew that my future lay in healthcare, but I wasn’t sure in exactly what field.
When I was 17 years old our school encouraged us to do work experience. I knew this was my opportunity to see a bit more about what other health professionals did. I managed to get a placement at The Western General hospital in Edinburgh based at the Neurosurgical department. I spent two incredible weeks shadowing lots of medical professionals from brain surgeons, to Drs, specialist nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. I even managed to chat to patients and their families on the wards. I loved every minute of the experience. One of the most unforgettable experiences was being invited into the operating theatre to observe a brain surgery. The team were so welcoming and made me feel completely at ease in this dramatically different environment. From that minute on, I was hooked! I knew that this was something I needed to do.
I did as most students in Scotland do I filled in my UCAS forms and waited to see what would happen next. I applied to a variety of allied health professions including optometry, podiatry and even medical sciences. I was invited for an interview at the Podiatry department at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and was delighted. I remember walking into the department and it just feeling right. After that everything seemed to fall into place! I received an unconditional offer and the rest they say is history!
I studied Podiatric medicine at QMU for four years, graduating with a 1st class honours degree. I really enjoyed my time at university and met some incredible lecturers and friends along the way. I felt that I had more to prove than others coming from a family of Podiatrists, people assumed I knew the syllabus already, possibly by osmosis. But I worked hard to prove that I was no different from any other student.
Once I graduated I decided that I wanted to gain more clinical experience through the NHS. I applied to work at our teaching clinic in Inchkeith House in Leith where I had to building up clinical experience throughout my four years of study. I spent three months of the summer working in the student clinics with my two clinical mentors, Sara and Sharon. It was a steep learning curve from my clinical placements but I enjoyed everyday. Once my contract finished there I found a graduate mentorship job in NHS Tayside and made the move to Perth. I loved my time spent with the team in Perth and learned so much on my mentorship. At the end of my 9 month mentorship I decided to make my move in private practice by joining the family business.
This year will be my 14th year in private practice! The past 14 years are been incredible in so many ways. But I have finally found my balance, I split my week by doing a few days of my specialism, a few days of routine work and a little bit of practice management.
I have found my areas of specialism in Podiatry and worked hard to gain experience in these areas. I chose to specialise is Biomechanics and gait, which still fascinates me to this day. I am constantly learning. I have a thirst for knowledge and I am always trying to do more continual professional development. I love the variety of the biomechanics clinic, one minute I can be treating a child with a developmental issue, next a sportsperson with a sports injury and then helping rehabilitate someone after a hip or knee replacement. Then I really enjoy putting on a different hat on other days and doing routine podiatry. I have a lot of long standing patients, who come to me regularly and we have built up some great relationships. I am also responsible for some behind the scenes practice management such as the website, marketing, training, practice promotion and people management, amongst other things.
When I am not working I am almost always busy. If I am not helping with a charity podiatry event, I am trying to take time out of my podiatry life. I have an active social life with friends and family. I also love spending time walking with my rough collie puppy Harris, who fills our life with joy. I enjoy pilates and yoga and try to do that as regularly as possible. I did a lot of ballet when I was younger so I have channeled that into these similar activities or going to the theatre to watch dance and musicals. I am also an avid reader and I am a member of a book club which takes me out of my reading comfort zone. I also enjoy travelling even if it is just to the Highlands for a weekend away or a city break in Europe. I am even brushing up on my high school French, in preparation for more holidays in the South of France.
I think the key to finding happiness in your job is doing something that makes your heart sing. I genuinely love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else!
