As with any career, it’s what you make of it.  And so far, over the past (nearly!) 40 years, I have used my knowledge and skills as an Orthotist to work in over 10 different countries, with most of my experience gained in war zones.  And this is the  story that I would like to share with you now.  For my career at a glance, I’ve also summarised some of my roles at the end of this story.
 
It wasn’t a smooth start. Moving countries when you are young has mixed blessings, as does returning to your own country when the time comes. Travel is a great educator, but education and qualifications don’t always travel well. This was overmuch the case with me.
 
I decided to return to England at 19 years of age, education in tatters, £25 in my pocket, one change of clothes in a small suitcase, guitar on my back and homeless (my parents having decided to remain in Africa ). Not a good position to be in.
 
Things rapidly worsened. Whilst attending an interview at a college on the South Coast to register for GCSEs, I was informed that due to my tax status and having been residing out of England for some years, I was classed as an “overseas student”. I would need to pay a couple of thousand pounds to study. Clearly, this was not an option and after a few hours in a local pub, building up the courage to go back to the college to further plead my case, I was still told that, the only other way to get in without charge was to work for three years, to pay tax and National Insurance and then re-apply. This I did.
 
During that time the challenge of finding work was only equalled by the inherent problem of where to live. The latter on occasion coming with the former, but in the main if fortunate, staying in charity hostels such as “Centre Point” in London and if not, fields or bus stations had to suffice.
                                                                        
Fast forward three years, it is now 1982. Having satisfied the system, attaining a few foundational and recognisable qualifications, I was successful in the job market and was employed by an Orthotics company as a Trainee Orthotist. They later went on to sponsor me on the P&O course in Paddington which, at the time, was the first of the new courses in England.
 
To say I struggled with this learning process was an understatement. But we were housed in hotels near the college and living and working with class mates was a truly memorable experience, resulting in several life-long friendships.
 
Once we qualified and went our separate ways, it was “teeth-cutting” time! I started my career in London, working in many of the inner city hospitals, gaining valuable experience in Orthotics.
 
After taking a senior post in Cornwall, employed by the County Council who ran the Orthotics service, which was somewhat unusual, I applied for my first job overseas.
I was fortunate enough to secure a post in a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), run by Sandy Gall, having been interviewed by the “grandfather of Orthotics”, Bill Tuck. In addition to a clinical role, I was also tasked with developing a training programme and establishing an orthotics clinic in Afghanistan. Working in such an environment is difficult to describe, there are so many extra duties and factors influencing daily routine, from language and cultural challenges to security issues and international matters concerning personal and professional arrangements.
Much of this cannot be learned from a text book!
 
The “University of trial and error” is the best way I can describe this learning curve.
One of the most important skills needed was the ability to communicate and negotiate with other colleagues, organisations and the military. Information and networking are essential skills needed when establishing a successful project.
 
Constraints often occur in such fluid situations, so you have to constantly keep your “ear to the ground”. The hard work paid off.  By 1989, the clinic was successfully established in North East Afghanistan and in the same year, the training programme was judged as the best of its kind by the World Health Organisation. 
 
Moving on to Sri Lanka, I undertook two country-wide surveys in the civil war there on behalf of another NGO, with a view to starting a P&O school. This involved negotiating with the various factions at government level and with representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Working within the country during a time of  conflict was quite different from my previous job, as it involved negotiating with both civilians and the military, collating very sensitive information in order to establish a meaningful overview of the need for P&O in the short and long-term. I became versed in the intricacies of landmine construction, placement and impact.
 
Extending my interest in working within conflict zones, my career took me to Cambodia, Mozambique and finally Bosnia, undertaking clinics, presenting papers on P&O, promoting new Prosthetic limb systems, developing project proposals, monitoring and evaluating projects and writing impact studies.
 
I became involved in the rehabilitation of service veterans and worked closely with BLESMA (the limbless veterans) charity, BCEL (British Commonwealth Ex-Service Men’s League), CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) and various other organisations.
 
My career has also lead me to work in Germany, Switzerland and New Zealand gaining an invaluable insight into P&O on an international scale, but this was interspersed with undertaking a great number of NHS clinics throughout the UK.
 
My clinical time has been enhanced with involvement in our professional organisations, i.e. BAPO and HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council), various National NHS Reports, such as “Darzi” and “Carter”, undertaking reviews on NHS Hospital departments and assisting commercial companies in contracting and technical training.
 
More recently, I have become a P&O “trailblazer”, constructing a pre-course for newly employed students prior to the inception of the programme proper, and I have also mentored students on several occasions over the years.
 
Over the course of my long career, I have been awarded the M.B.E for my services to disabled people and associated work internationally, the Bader Prize for commitment in my work treating war veterans and various travel sponsorships.  My work has been noted in World Health Organisation reports and I have presented many papers on the treatment of refugees and war casualties both at international military and civilian conferences.  I have worked in clinical, leadership, research and education roles including project development, training, monitoring and evaluation, and undertaking impact studies and logistical analyses in conflict zones.
 
I hope that my story shows that within our profession you can follow your own pathway. I hope I have served it well by elevating it both internationally and nationally.
 
In conclusion, I would like to return to the beginning of my story and thank my old guitar, which once sold, contributed funds to my decision-making pub session all those years ago, providing me with enough “Dutch Courage” to gain the all-important, albeit daunting information necessary to embark on my pathway of studies and subsequently my career in Prosthetics and Orthotics.
 
Some of my roles within my career:

Trainee Orthotist
Orthotist in NHS and Local Authority services
Team leader (establishing new P&O clinic in Afghanistan)
Lead Clinical trainer (developing WHO recognised P&O course in Pakistan)
Lead Author (including for two major surveys to establish a P&O school in Sri Lanka)
Freelance Orthotist and Writer (writing project reviews for P&O projects in Cambodia)
Lead presenter and project reviewer (for P&O in Mozambique and in Bosnia)
Lead P&O professional co-directing “limbs for Bosnia” in conjunction with BLESMA ((the limbless veterans charity)