From small acorns grow fabulous oak trees.

From early in my podiatry career I have been blessed to work with many incredible professional colleagues (mainly podiatrists but other medical professionals too) who have kindly taken me under their wing and helped me work through the maze of work life.

I call them my Mentors.

So what is a mentor?

Type “mentor definition” into Google and this is what comes back:

“An experienced person in a company or educational institution who trains and counsels new employees or students.”

I have had a mixture of mentors – those who have been ‘assigned’ and some who have informally walked in my life. I met my first mentor on my very first day as a locum podiatrist for Westminster NHS Trust some 25 years back. I was very nervous.

This was my first job as a podiatrist and it involved working five mornings a week. I thought this was good way to ease into work after studying all my life! I was aware that I would be assessing and treating patients as well as having to write up the notes but what I did not know was that there would be some admin work to complete, such as ‘outcoming’ the patient’s return time, entering the data onto a computer system, and more importantly, getting my time sheet signed off. 

This kind man showed me the ropes on how to do this including several other aspects that I had not thought off. I was grateful to him. He always seemed calm even when things were difficult, he was easy to be around and did not seem to mind my million questions!

The job lasted for 6 months and although it could have led to being a permanent job, at that time, I was keen to pursue my master’s degree and the trust were not keen on flexible working. This kind man was Mark Brogan. I was eternally grateful for his kindness.  At the time, he was recently qualified and had been working for a couple of years.

I went onto pursue my Masters and then had to take a career break for a few years.

My career restarted a good number of years later at a different London trust and again my manager wasn’t always present, but during the time that she was, I would share my interest and she would encourage me and she pushed in the direction of Biomechanics. Again, someone else who guided me in my journey.

I was content in my career and did not have any major plans or vision to take over the world of podiatry. In fact during one of the staff meetings, we were asked of our five year plan and I clearly remember that mine was to keep doing the same job at the same trust until I retired!

As it happened, I was the first one to leave after this staff meeting. During this time, I kept hearing Mark Brogan’s name through podiatry grapevine and how he had become the manager for the same trust I started with. Suddenly, there was this urge to pursue a job in his team. There were a few job openings in his team. I remember calling him for an informal chat to see if I was eligible, quite nervous if he would even recall who I was – a scared, anxious podiatrist from mid 90’s. This, then led to a job in the Biomechanics team at within Westminster podiatry team, but there was more to this particular job description. It involved being seconded at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, to start an in-patient podiatrist service within the hospital and to pursue a specialist clinic in Secondary care with another colleague.

During my interview, I shared that, although I liked Biomechanics and was passionate for it, I did not feel very confident, nor did I feel very I had much knowledge. I was assigned to the lead Biomechanics specialist who further improved my skill set and my confidence. Another Mark, who was always willing to share his expertise and teach it in a form that was simple and easy to understand. It felt like my prayers had been answered and that is how I joined Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle clinic and Falls specialist service.

In my previous blogs, I have already mentioned that although, I understood biomechanics from a podiatry point of view, my knowledge was not up to the same level as that of the Orthopaedic team. I was a little timid and extremely shy. My confidence was a little lacking too. But what I lacked in confidence, I made up in perseverance with my thirst of knowledge and persistence to constantly improve myself.

The team initially consisted of one Foot and Ankle consultant and a lower limb specialist physiotherapist; but in mid-2014, another Foot & Ankle consultant joined the team permanently. By this time, I had been working there for 5 years and although there was some improvement in my skill set, I still felt I was lacking and letting them down especially with the first consultant who I was in awe of, ever since I started working with him. In fact, I felt extremely privileged to work with all three members of the team. It was constant fountain of knowledge I gained every Wednesday morning. However, I was not ready to call it a day. I needed to prove to myself that I could succeed. I had to buckle down and study.

Meanwhile, I was doing my best at what an Indian does – trying to feed them all with a variety of Indian cuisine! I think I bought some brownie points over the years but not enough to get a pass into the Orthopaedic world. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a cook but, I am a foodie!

Later in 2014, I lost my father and I further struggled, again feeling that I was letting my team down.

Things changed the following year. I couldn’t possibly put a finger of what changed - maybe I was being directed by high powers and I became better at my NHS specialist podiatrist job and my confidence grew too.

I would not be here had it not been for these three people who took an interest in me and informally guided me. The second Foot & Ankle consultant constantly pushed me and encouraged me to believe in myself (which I didn’t), and although I admired him and was in awe of him too, I didn’t become tongue tied when I spoke to him or shared my concerns. I felt open and totally free as myself than I would to be with the first consultant – I guess I admired the first one so much that I would almost forget why I was speaking to him in the first place. The second consultant was the first person who suggested I try my hand in private practice. His confidence in me, shocked me but at the same time, I felt excited. Initially, he suggested that I offer biomechanics assessment as a home visit. I nearly cried when I got my first ever private biomechanics patient from him. 

A few months down the line that same year, a conversation with the lower limb specialist physiotherapist, who was teaching Foot and Ankle masterclasses in lateral, medial and hindfoot. She suggested that I should teach the forefoot as that is more a podiatrist’s forte. I really respected her so when she asked, I jumped so high that she had approached me. I just said yes and stated I was not confident to present but I could write it from a podiatry point of view and she could present. I set about to write under her guidance and before I knew it, I was presenting.

I am sure she pulled her hair out with me as she had to constantly steer me in the correct direction (as you know I can write as much as I can talk) as well as boost my confidence, but as I said I am persistent like a bad smell! I was suddenly teaching and became a national and international speaker all thanks to her.

Suddenly, my confidence improved especially with my first consultant. I was less tongue tied and more to the point, more focussed in my assessments with patients and with my clinical presentations to him. As you can imagine, when he referred his first private patient to me, I was simply ecstatic!  More recently, this has led to other things, one of them being the biggest opportunity of my life. I will tell you more about this in my next blog.

The incredible beauty of this is that while it has led me to these amazing career opportunities, I don’t think my mentors even realise what they have done for me. In many ways, they have given me a purpose to be the best version of myself. And this is the main reason for writing this blog.

To the two Marks who acted as stepping stones in my career. Thank you. I will always remember you before I embark on a new dream.  

When I shared my news of my latest opportunity with Mark Brogan, he simply said “from small acorns grow fabulous oak trees”!

But I am incredible grateful to the fabulous Foot and Ankle team at St Mary’s Hospital have shown me that things can seem impossible but with the right mentors, you can achieve anything!

Thank you Mr Nadeem Mushtaq, Ms Noelene Davey and Mr Pete Rosenfeld. I am forever in your debt and I hope I make you proud.