A podiatry degree is a golden ticket career with a lifetime of opportunities
Inspiring journeys to work include:
- Career in NHS or private practice, possible specialist areas include:
diabetes, wound care, biomechanics, sports, paediatrics, rheumatology, forensics, elderly care - Medical sales work
- Lecturing and Research
- Specialist in podiatric surgery
Show me the money!
How much can I earn once I am qualified?
Putting a number to it is not that easy but here are a few examples.
Working in the NHS
A graduate entry podiatrist would receive graduate entry salary (called a band 5) – this is the same as a nurse and slightly more than a teacher. Promotion to a more specialist podiatrist (band 6) is enabled by many employers. View salary scales on the NHS website
Working in Private Practice
Working in a private practice you can earn around £20,000 – £50,000, though it can take time to build a successful business
Meet some podiatrists
Podiatrists talk about their careers since they qualified.
Jody Lucas (graduated 2007)
Senior Podiatrist, Kings College Hospital
Jody graduated in 2007 with a first class honours degree and worked for Southwark PCT for 3 years, latterly specialising in high risk foot care and wound management. Jody then took up an advanced clinical role at the World-renowned diabetic foot clinic at Kings College Hospital led by Professor Mike Edmonds, where she manages high-risk diabetic foot pathology.
Additionally, Jody concurrently undertakes clinical teaching for undergraduate students during term-time. Most recently Jody won a PhD scholarship at the University of Brighton to study the impact of Charcot foot on individuals with diabetes, a project which shares expertise between three Faculties within the University and Kings.
Richard Keating (graduated 2014)
MSK Specialist Podiatrist
Richard graduated from the University of Brighton in 2014. While at university his research assignment formed his final year project, which his group work was published in the Journal for and Ankle Research.
Alongside his study Richard was fortunate enough to represent the university at the British University Championships and took away a gold medal for amateur boxing at lightweight in the national contest. Since leaving university Richard now spends his spare time judging and coaching amateur boxing.
After leaving university Richard developed a keen interest in biomechanics, particularly the complications the foot can experience in abnormal loading. This interest lead Richard to take a position working in a multi-disciplinary team with physiotherapy and orthopaedics in central London.
Richard is currently studying for his MSc in podiatry with clinical biomechanics and using these skills to enable more effective patient treatment. Recently Richard has undertaken a lecturing position with New College Durham, focusing his efforts into teaching the next generation of podiatrists.
Amor Forde (graduated 2013)
Specialist Podiatrist, Barbados Diabetes Foundation and as an associate in a private podiatry clinic
Amor was born and raised in Barbados and initially graduated from the University of the West Indies with a BSc in Biochemistry and Chemistry. Concerned about the alarming number of diabetes-related amputations in Barbados and its impact on the most vulnerable in the society, Amor moved to the UK graduating with a first-class BSc (Hons) Podiatry in 2013.
Moving back to her home country Amor made a commitment to improving the quality of life of persons living with diabetes and works as a specialist Podiatrist for the Barbados Diabetes Foundation and as an Associate in a private podiatry clinic. Amor successfully completed her MSc (podiatry and diabetes) at Brighton in 2016. In addition, Amor is Foot Health Educator for Community Outreach in Barbados and a public relations officer for the Barbados Association of Podiatrists.
Never forgetting her goal of preventing amputation and wound management, Amors’ work is not limited to Barbados. Aside from educational outreach locally, Amor has taken part in limb salvage programs in Belize and became a member of the D-foot International initiative, which unites practitioners interested in diabetic foot preservation globally.
Kaleivani Mooneesawmy (graduated 2018)
Specialist Podiatrist, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Kaleivani was born and raised in Mauritius and as a keen international traveller, initially graduated from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China with a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery degree in 2013. While working as an intern at a hospital in her native Mauritius that she became concerned over the high rate of amputation linked with diabetes and foot wounds.
Subsequently Dr Kaleivani sought a place to study podiatry at University of Brighton, graduating in 2018, with First Class Honours. Additionally, her undergraduate research paper was published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research.
After graduation Kaleivani began her career in the private sector, before joining the National Health Service in 2018 and is currently a Band 6 Specialist Podiatrist with Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust specialising in wound care.
Chrystalla Charalambous
Chrystalla graduated from University of Brighton in 2015; originally coming from Cyprus, Chrystalla attended University as an International student and reports how she “was excited to come to the UK to study at one of the best Universities for Podiatry”.
During her time at Brighton Chrystalla enjoyed voluntary work for Cancer Research UK and with fellow staff/students attended the London Marathon as part of the medical team. She also took every opportunity to travel in and around the UK and more widely across Europe. Chrystalla excelled in her studies and along with colleagues in her research group presented a project exploring microbiological contamination of clinical furniture at the 2015 national podiatry conference.
Since graduating Chrystalla has undertaken interships and worked in the private podiatry sector. She is currently undertaking a Masters’ degree in podiatry and is keen to specialise in the field of diabetes and work overseas.
Katie Ring
Katie Graduated in 2004 initially working in Islington as a band 5 podiatrist moving to a band 6 Musculoskeletal specialist role in 2005 with Kent Community Health NHS foundation Trust, where Katie did her student placements.
In 2007 Katie was promoted to a band 7 Team Leader, managing a team of 15 podiatrists. During that time Katie returned to the University of Brighton completing an MSc in Podiatry and Management. Her research was published and presented at the College of Podiatry national conference and at the European rheumatology conference in Rome.
In 2015 Katie was promoted to Clinical quality lead (Band 8a) for Kent Community Health NHS Trust Podiatry services where she was responsible for coordinating clinical care provided by approximately 80 podiatry staff.
Most recently in 2018 Katie has been promoted to Head of Quality, Governance and Professional Standards for Specialist and Elective services for Kent Community Health NHS Trust
Siobhan Melia
Siobhan graduated with a Podiatry degree from the University of Brighton in 1996. She initially worked as a podiatrist for the NHS in North West London prior to a promotion to Team Lead and then returning to the University of Brighton to complete her Master’s degree in podiatry.
A number of different career opportunities were undertaken by Siobhan, including clinical lead podiatrist for Broadmoor Special Secure Hospital and a role as Trust clinical executive chair.
Moving into business and strategy director roles Siobhan transitioned her career away from the NHS leading a team developing health technology solutions at Telefonica. In parallel she completed an MBA. Siobhan is now Chief Executive of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, One of the country’s leading community health and care providers. With around 5,000 members of staff serving a population of 1.3 million people. Siobhan’s journey demonstrates the breadth, development and learning that can occur throughout your career.
Hannah Beute
Hannah graduated from University of Brighton in 2010 and initially worked for Swindon NHS Trust as special interest diabetes podiatrist, prior to a substantive role as a high-risk specialist podiatrist for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS trust. A position that included managing high risk patients in community and secondary care settings as well as co-ordinating placements for podiatry and nursing students.
In 2016 Hannah moved back to the West Country undertaking an audit role as diabetes specialist podiatrist with Great Western Hospitals NHS Trust – role that required the development and implementation of ward staff regarding assessing the diabetic foot in addition to running specialist diabetic foot clinics.
In 2017 Hannah set-up her own highly successful private practice providing a wide range of podiatry services for individual clients in addition to corporate and sports organisations. Hannah has been instrumental in helping the University of Brighton develop private practice placements in conjunction with a programme of work with the Office for Students and Health Education England.
