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Dr Bergin also has a strong background in clinical education and Quality and Risk management and she is currently working as a Lecturer in the Discipline of Podiatry at La Trobe University, and part-time in the disability sector as a Risk Management Investigator.  In 2009, she was awarded a PhD in Health Services Research from Monash University and her thesis was on: ‘Community-based models of care for management of diabetes-related foot complications: current and future models of care’. To this day, Dr Bergin is still very active in the research sector, and her current interests include the influence of psychosocial elements on outcomes for chronic disease; including diabetes-related foot disease.

Shan Bergin, Chair of the Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation reflects on the positive work of podiatrists and in doing so, shares some good news with members that benefits podiatrists. 

The COVID pandemic has caused much disruption to the podiatry workforce over the past two years. This disruption has been significant regardless of whether you work in the public or private sector, work primarily in academia and education; or do a combination of all of the above. Our work-related activity was also heavily impacted by changes to schooling, for those of us with school-aged children, and the limitations placed on all of us in terms of movement and lifestyle.  

As we look towards a more ‘normal’ way of life, it is time to look for the positives in whatever it is we all currently do as podiatrists. With this in mind, I thought I would kick off with some good news from the Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation (APERF). 

Firstly, the Board of Trustees at APERF would like to congratulate Kristin Graham and her co-researchers on the completion of their APERF funded study: Prescribing practices in Australian podiatrists and barriers and facilitators to endorsement for scheduled medicines, and the subsequent publication of this research in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. If you haven’t already read this piece of work, you can find the article freely accessible here.

This high quality study and publication informs an important area of podiatric practice and is relevant to all members of our profession. From an APERF perspective, it is exciting for us to see APERF-funded research published and contributing to the ongoing evolution of podiatry. 

APERF would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our successful funding applicants for 2021.

Congratulations to: 

  • Dr Helen Banwell – Does the use of textured insoles improve gross motor measures balance domain outcomes in children with motor skill difficulties when compared to footwear alone. A multi-site feasibility trial. 
  • Polly Lim – Efficacy of foot orthoses for midfoot arthritis.  
  • Professor Shannon Munteanu – Development of the Podiatry Employer Satisfaction Survey (P-ESS): a survey to measure employer satisfaction of podiatry graduates. 
  • Dr Peta Tehan – Addressing inequity in diabetic foot disease in Australia – understanding public podiatry services for Australians with or at risk of diabetic foot disease across Australia. 
  • Dr Glen Whittaker – Diagnostic accuracy of clinical features for the early identification of systemic inflammatory causes of heel pain.  
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