In March of this year, a group of podiatrists travelled to the rarified air of the French Alps to spend time together to explore how they practice, discuss the challenges they face and ultimately learn how they can expand their thinking on the profession of podiatry.
This group included Firefly Ambassadors Sarah O’Connell of Momentum Foot & Ankle, Zoe Wilson of ZW Foot & Ankle, Suzanne Hamilton of Suzanne Hamilton Podiatry, Maddie Tait of MT Podiatry, Greg Gillanders of Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics, Yvonne Buckley, HSE Mid West, Glen Foley of Southdowns Podiatry & Chiropody Clinic and student podiatrist Ellen McGeough.
Some of the conversations that took place in and around our Alpine chalet and on the slopes were captured on camera. Below you’ll find a selection of these – enjoy!
Suzanne Hamilton
Suzanne Hamilton is a Belfast based podiatrist who heads up Suzanne Hamilton Podiatry in East Belfast where she delivers bespoke services to a broad range of patients.
She is one of only a handful of podiatrists in the UK carrying a post-graduate qualification from the William Harvey Research Institute (Queen Mary University, London) in Podiatric Sports Medicine. She’s one of two in Northern Ireland with this qualification. After gaining an insight as student into the SEM team at Chelsea FC, she’s moved the goalposts a little closer to home and partnered with Crusaders FC’s first team since 2015.
Suzanne’s determination to drive the podiatry profession forward has led to her becoming a Firefly ambassador.
Sarah O’Connell
Sarah is a graduate of NUI Galway, she completed a MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of Ulster in 2020. With a combination of professional qualifications and practical clinic experience for over five years, Sarah provides patients with a unique approach from routine podiatry/chiropody to biomechanics and orthotic therapy with a particular interest in sports injury rehabilitation.
After graduating, Sarah worked in Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics and coordinated Firefly Orthoses’ educational offering for a number of years.
Experienced in delivering educational content in Universities across the UK and Ireland her expertise in custom made foot orthoses design has seen her become a Firefly Ambassador.
In 2021 Sarah launched Momentum Foot & Ankle in Galway.
Greg Gillanders & Glen Foley
Greg is a partner in Firefly Foot & Ankle Clinics where his expertise in custom made foot orthoses and bracing therapy positions him as a leading practitioner in his field.
With experience in both the public and private health sectors as a Musculoskeletal Podiatrist, Greg has a particular interest in advanced biomechanics. He has treated patients of all ages and athletes of all levels.
Glen Foley is a lecturer in podiatry at the University of Brighton and practices as an MSK Podiatrist at Southdowns Podiatry and Chiropody Clinic in Eastbourne.
He works with DMRC Headley Court as an Extended Scope Practitioner Podiatrist specialising in biomechanics of the lower limb. He is currently involved with research regarding compartment syndrome and biomechanics overload syndrome in the military population as well as extensive work with injured personnel returning from theatres of conflict.
Zoe Wilson
Zoe is the owner and lead podiatrist at ZW Foot & Ankle in the Lake District where she now operates two from two beautiful clinic locations.
In 2019 she completed a Degree in Theory of Podiatric Surgery and continued to fulfil her fascination of surgical management of the foot & ankle by completing a passport to surgical training.
Developing a broad range of experience in various clinical setting, she has recently launched a luxury foot care range ZW FOOTCARE Solutions incorporating natural and sustainable ingredients, eco friendly packaging at an affordable price range. The range, currently encompassing 6 products, offers both the general public and Podiatric profession a passionately, podiatrist developed product with patient and professional in mind.
Zoe’s drive and expertise makes her an ideal candidate to be a Firefly Ambassador.
