Standing for Election

1. Professional background and specific areas of interest

Eileen Morrow is a clinical academic orthotist with a BSc(Hons) in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. She worked as a clinical orthotist for 7 years across a broad spectrum of specialisms, including paediatric orthopaedics, instrumented gait analysis, neurological rehabilitation, rheumatology, diabetes, and complex polytrauma.

She holds an NIHR/HEE Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship. In her doctoral research, she is developing a core outcome set for children’s elective lower limb orthopaedic surgery (CELLOS study). She is also investigating the efficacy of surgery for children with idiopathic toe walking in a pilot study (FOREFOOT study) and leading a project to develop and validate a sham insole for children. Eileen was previously awarded an NIHR/HEE Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship. She completed an MSc in Health Research Methods at the University of Exeter, receiving a prize for the highest overall score on this course.

She is the Chair of the Research Committee for the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO). She is the prosthetics and orthotics representative on the committee of the Oxfordshire hub of the Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR).

Eileen is an invited lecturer for prosthetics and orthotics students on research and clinical governance at the University of Salford. She regularly peer reviews for academic journals, including Prosthetics and Orthotics International and Gait and Posture.

2. Skills and experience to bring to BAPO’s governance and the effective development of the profession

As Chair of the BAPO Research Committee and a dedicated NIHR/HEE Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellow, Eileen is positioned to advocate for the representation of researchers within the P&O community.

By occupying a pivotal position on the Research Committee and the EC, Eileen will strengthen the bridge between the research community and BAPO’s overarching governance, ensuring that research-driven insights play a prominent role in shaping the strategic direction and policies of the association.

3. Reason the candidate wishes to be elected

Eileen Morrow seeks election to the Executive Committee (EC) with a clear aspiration to contribute her expertise and perspective as a researcher in the prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) field. Her decision to stand for election reflects a commitment to furthering the profession’s interests and shaping the strategic direction of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO).

By joining the EC, Eileen aims to bridge the gap between the research community and the broader governance structure, ensuring that the unique insights, challenges, and opportunities faced by researchers in P&O are effectively communicated and addressed.

1. Professional background and specific areas of interest

Pam graduated in 2007, and since this time has held positions in the field of Orthotics, including time as Principal Orthotist within the NHS, Clinical Lead for one of the largest private provides into the NHS, and since 2011, has owned and practiced within a multi-site private orthotic clinic, as well as being the owner of the largest locum agency serving England and Wales. Pam’s clinical specialism lies in the field of complex paediatrics, foot and ankle, and neuro. Pam is trained and experienced with all aspects of medicolegal and case management work.

2. Skills and experience to bring to BAPO’s governance and the effective development of the profession

Pam has previously been a member of the BAPO EC, having served as Secretary and Chair of the Editorial Committee, a position which she now holds again. Pam’s work in all sectors of the profession, make her well placed to play a significant role in the governance of BAPO, and also ensures that she can represent the membership across all areas of service delivery, including those groups frequently marginalised.

3. Reason the candidate wishes to be elected

Pam feels that the time is right for her to play a part once more in the vital work that BAPO performs for its members. Since her last period of time on the EC, she now has vastly more experience in many more areas of clinical practice, and of service delivery.

1. Professional background and specific areas of interest

Nick is one of only two Consultant Orthotists in the UK, having reached this career summit with incredible rapidity and focus.

He is Clinical Lead at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust’s and has been appointed Consultant Orthotist. Nick specialises in biomechanics, gait analysis and the management of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular lower limb conditions. Nick consults for several professional sports teams and has a research interest in the management tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction in primary care. He also has a keen interest in sports injury prevention, lower limb orthotic management and the conservative orthotic management of neurological conditions.

2. Skills and experience to bring to BAPO’s governance and the effective development of the profession

Nick is an incredibly astute individual with an in-depth and wide ranging whole world view of the needs of our profession, and how to help it create the environment for growth and empowerment.

Nick is passionate about the profession, has an unrelenting hunger to overcome the challenges the profession faces, and to see it flourish and grow. During his tenure at Reading he has grown the service from 1 WTE to 5 WTE and now runs a very efficient and reputable NHS service. This requires a strong understanding of governance and effective promotion and development of the profession. He is current Chair of the NOMAG Group supporting education, policy and change management and is also a member of British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

3. Reason the candidate wishes to be elected

Nick wishes to provide his skillset to the profession to aid in its growth, adaptability to changing clinical environments and unavoidable changes to the educational system in the near and more far-flung future.

They wish to have a seat at the table and be in a position to offer value at the highest levels of influence by offering up his experience, knowledge and passion for the professions.

1. Professional background and specific areas of interest

Dave studied Prosthetics and Orthotics at The University of Strathclyde, graduating in 2005, before moving to Cardiff to work for Dacey Ltd as an Orthotist for 3 years. Dave then moved to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (South East Wales) in 2008, to establish an in-house Orthotics clinical service, and has worked for ABUHB for the past 15 years. Dave is also interested in supporting Prosthetics and Orthotics in the developing world, with a trip to Cambodia as a 3rd-year student and visits to Uganda in 2013 and 2014 with the Uganda Polio Project. 

2. Skills and experience to bring to BAPO’s governance and the effective development of the profession

Dave has worked as an Orthotist for 18 years, and has experience of working as a contractor and directly for the NHS. In his current role, Dave is responsible for strategic planning, clinical governance and financial management of the Podiatry and Orthotics service. Dave gained an MSc in Health Care Management from Swansea University in 2022: which included modules in leadership, health economics, and quality improvement. Dave is enthusiastic about Prosthetics and Orthotics and is keen to see the profession grow and develop in order to meet the needs of the population.

3. Reason the candidate wishes to be elected

Increasing demand and scarcity of resources is resulting in significant challenges for healthcare systems and health care workers: including Prosthetists, Orthotists, Technicians and Support Workers. Dave has been a long term member of BAPO and believes having a strong professional body is vital in facing these challenges, especially for a small profession. Dave has been encouraged by the work that BAPO has been doing in recent years, and wishes to be elected to become more involved in the life and activity of our professional body. Advocating for members and promoting the profession in Wales and across the United Kingdom.  

1. Professional background and specific areas of interest

Florence has five years of orthotics clinical experience and is concluding a two-year MSc in Physiotherapy. She has been chair of the Professional Affairs Committee since March 2023.

2. Skills and experience to bring to BAPO’s governance and the effective development of the profession

The proposer has worked with Florence on the professional affairs committee for over a year and can see that she has both enthusiasm and skills that will be an asset to the executive committee. During her time as a co-opted member, she has put together plans for training students in leadership skills by creating hybrid placement opportunities. She has put herself forward to lead on a ‘susset’ sustainability knowledge-sharing forum for prosthetics and orthotics and has shown a commitment to hearing and understanding the views of other prosthetists and orthotists regarding what they would like BAPO to provide for them in the future.

3. Reason the candidate wishes to be elected

I would like to be elected to the executive committee because would it allow me to provide a link between the Professional Affairs and Executive committees on key matters. Examples include our work around helping people stay part of our workforce, sustainability, and representation of prosthetics and orthotics students within the wider schools of allied health in their respective institutions, all of which benefit from collaboration with other committees and experts represented in the executive committee. I would also appreciate the opportunity to continue my project around integrating leadership roles into student placement opportunities and am best placed to do this as a member of the executive committee due to the leadership nature of the role. Finally, I would value the opportunity to develop and enhance my own skills, the foundation for which has been paid by my chair position within the Professional Affairs committee.

1. Professional background and specific areas of interest

Katie graduated from Salford University in 2014. In her early career, she worked for Trulife running clinics in and around London. She was quickly given responsibility for organising rotas and clinic cover. She later took a role in the NHS as a senior orthotist and later as clinical lead orthotist in West-Yorkshire. Here she transformed a locum-run service through a number of service improvements, pathway redesigns, and commissioning re-negotiations. Katie’s area of interest is in service redesign and governance. Since taking a job closer to home, she has worked in senior levels of NHS clinical governance and operational management.

2. Skills and experience to bring to BAPO’s governance and the effective development of the profession

Katie completed an MSc in Healthcare Management in 2019 and published her thesis outlining the poor state of job satisfaction for orthotists in England and Wales. Her interest in retention and attrition of P&O staff makes her well-suited to informing national policy decisions. Katie has a good understanding of NHS management structures and can contribute well on how to influence regulatory and commissioning bodies.

3. Reason the candidate wishes to be elected

Katie wishes to boost the profile of the profession within the NHS and improve working conditions for the industry. She is excited about the change incoming within the healthcare landscape and is keen to support BAPO through this.