National award nominations spotlight next generation of podiatrists

Despite their importance to the nation's health, the podiatry profession faces a significant workforce shortage, making the development of new talent in training institutions like the University of Brighton more important than ever.

Now, Arham Khalid, a final-year podiatry student and two of the programme’s leading placement educators at the University of Brighton, have been named finalists in this year’s Royal College of Podiatry Awards, recognising their outstanding contributions to patient care, professional development and careers advocacy.

Arham has been nominated in the Student of the Year (Pre-Registration) category, while placement educators Simon Croucher and Florentin Baciu have been shortlisted for the Podiatry Careers Champion Award.

The nominations come at a time that the University of Brighton has teamed with the Sussex Community NHS Partnership Trust to open a new, state-of-the-art podiatry clinic at the university’s Falmer campus this summer. With nearly 10,000 podiatry referrals in the Sussex area alone, the clinic will significantly expand care for local communities, create more than 4,500 additional appointments annually, and enable more people needing podiatry care across West Sussex and Brighton & Hove to be seen sooner and receive timely, high-quality care. 

Ongoing local partnerships as well as the educational impact of the new clinic strengthens Brighton’s podiatry programme in preparing highly skilled practitioners and inspiring more people to enter a profession facing growing workforce pressures across the UK.

Arham said: “Being shortlisted for this award is an incredible honour. Throughout my studies and placements, I have been fortunate to learn from inspiring clinicians who have challenged and supported me to grow. This nomination reflects not only my efforts but also the guidance and encouragement I have received from patients, placement educators and university staff along the way.”

Throughout Arham’s clinical training and placement across a range of NHS settings, she has demonstrated advanced clinical skills in high-risk foot care, musculoskeletal assessment, wound management and nail surgery, earning praise from supervisors for her professionalism, diagnostic reasoning and patient-centred approach. On International Podiatry Day 2025, Arham was selected by the Council of Deans of Health as a student voice to write a nationally published article encouraging prospective students to consider careers in podiatry.

Also shortlisted for the Podiatry Careers Champion Award are Simon Croucher and Florentin Baciu, founders of Bognor Podiatry Clinic and long-standing practice placement educators for the University of Brighton. The pair earned the nomination for their sustained efforts to promote podiatry as a rewarding and accessible career. Together they have supported students and prospective applicants through outreach events, careers activities, university open days and hands-on clinical shadowing opportunities.

Simon and Florentin’s open-door approach allows prospective students to experience podiatry in a real clinical environment, helping many gain a clearer understanding of the profession and the diverse opportunities it offers.

Students who have completed placements with the pair described their mentorship as transformative.

Faith Lang, a second-year podiatry student at the University of Brighton, said: “Their mentorship hasn’t just helped me learn; it has pushed me to want more for myself. They’ve inspired me to pursue podiatry with even greater determination, giving me the confidence to believe I can achieve my goals within the profession.”

Since 2018, podiatry training programmes across the UK and Ireland have reduced by 35%, while the number of new podiatrists entering the profession has declined by 7%. Podiatrists are now listed among the UK's shortage occupations, despite growing demand for specialist foot health services.

The consequences extend far beyond foot pain. Podiatrists play a critical role in preventing serious complications linked to conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis. More than six million people in the UK are living with diabetes, with over 1.2 million requiring regular podiatry care to reduce the risk of foot ulcers, infection and lower-limb amputation.

Foot and ankle problems also affect mobility, independence and overall wellbeing. Among older adults, disabling foot pain and structural foot conditions are major contributors to falls, which account for thousands of hospital admissions and deaths each year. Early intervention by podiatrists can help people remain active for longer, reducing pressure on health and social care services and improving quality of life.

Dao Tunprasert, Practice Learning Lead for Podiatry at the University of Brighton, said: “We are delighted to see Arham, Simon and Florentin recognised at a national level. These nominations reflect the strength of our podiatry community and the dedication shown by students, educators and clinical partners in supporting the next generation of practitioners.

“Arham’s nomination highlights the exceptional standard of our students, while Simon and Florentin’s recognition demonstrates the vital role placement educators play in inspiring future podiatrists. Developing the next generation of practitioners has never been more important, and we are proud to be playing our part in meeting that challenge.”

Winners of this year’s Royal College of Podiatry Awards will be announced on 12 June 2026.