Foot Health Week 2022 - meet Podiatrist Alida Mercuri
12 October 2022
A photo collage that Alida made which includes the years gone by at healthAbility!
It's Foot Health Week (10 -16 October 2022) and the theme this year is ‘Podiatrists are Foot Health Experts. They assess, treat and keep you on your feet.’
This highlights the huge difference podiatric intervention makes and celebrating the incredible work Podiatrists do.
New research by the Australian Podiatry Association shows almost 2 out of 5 Australians (39%) had life-threatening health issues identified by their Podiatrist.
The research showed Australians who had visited a Podiatrist for foot pain were unexpectedly found to have other life-threatening health issues, including:
- 33% circulatory issues
- 11% heart problems
- 25% diabetes (including risk of amputation)
- 23% gout
- 7% other health issues
We spoke to Alida Mercuri, one of our Podiatrists, who's been part of our team for over three decades. Find out more about her role and why she comes into work each day, to help her clients put their best foot forward.
How long have you been working at healthAbility?
I commenced working way back in 1988 when our service was known as Box Hill Community Health Services. At that time it was a sole Podiatry position and the total number of staff was 10!! It has been inspiring watching and participating in the growth of our service. Can you explain a little about what you do in your role? As a Podiatrist my role involves the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the foot and leg, with a large emphasis on the prevention of serious foot health issues.
I thoroughly enjoy the interaction with our clients, the amazing staff and the ‘million dollar’ view from the Box Hill Podiatry clinic. How do clients benefit from the podiatry services?
The majority of our Podiatry clients have health issues that require specialised care, so keeping our clients mobile is paramount. This is enhanced by the multi-disciplinary approach at healthAbility, the ability to internally refer our clients is essential in improving and maintaining their health and wellbeing. How do you enjoy spending your time outside of work? I absolutely love ‘road trips’ with my family/friends and being the wife of a Chef…good food is always on the agenda or the destination!! Tell us something about you that would surprise others Ah…this is a tricky one…I can write backwards with my right hand and forward the left hand at the same time... Please don’t ask how I discovered this ‘gift’…because I have no idea!! |
Find out more about our Podiatry services.
