The importance of your foot health cannot be overstated. Even an activity as mundane as going to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water depends on healthy foot function. Podiatrists like Manfred Mak help to ensure that any foot, ankle or lower limb disorders are quickly identified and promptly treated.

The Healthcare Scholar adds, “All around the world, our feet are often hidden in footwear and are out of our view and minds for the better part of the day. The welfare of our feet is often neglected until something bad occurs.

“Prevention is often better than cure – simply checking your feet every morning can make all the difference. If it looks or feels strange or uncomfortable, have it checked out by a healthcare professional!”

What Sparked Your Interest In Podiatry And Inspired You To Apply For The Healthcare Scholarship?

Manfred Mak: I found myself thinking about my future career path while waiting to enlist for my National Service after completing my ‘A’ Levels. To be honest, I’ve always felt that healthcare is a very rewarding field that would allow me to give back to the community, and SingHealth offered me a very hospitable environment to begin my healthcare career.

"To be honest, I’ve always felt that healthcare is a very rewarding field that would allow me to give back to the community, and SingHealth offered me a very hospitable environment to begin my healthcare career."

Before I signed up for the Singapore General Hospital Overseas Scholarship, I had not heard much about Podiatry. It’s a relatively new field in Singapore and I came to see it as more procedural and intervention-focused. I enjoy hands-on work and interacting with other people, and I was thus drawn to the field of Podiatry.

What Experiences Have You Enjoyed As A Healthcare Scholar With Singhealth?

Manfred: Living and studying in the United Kingdom was a unique, life-changing experience. It made me more independent, resourceful and sociable and this has helped me when interacting with patients.

SingHealth has been very forthcoming with assistance I’ve required throughout my scholarship journey, whether as an undergraduate or in my working career. A lot of learning is self-initiated and we also acquire a lot of our knowledge on the job. My peers in SingHealth are also important pillars of support as we learn together as a team.

In addition to local conferences and workshops with other Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), I was awarded the Health Manpower Development Plan in 2012, where I had the opportunity to travel to the United States (US) and was privileged to be mentored by a US Podiatric Surgeon who is a leading expert in diabetic foot conditions.

Tell Us More About Your Role As A Senior Podiatrist And Operational Lead For Inpatient Podiatry Services At Sgh.

Manfred: As a Senior Podiatrist, I see a lot of patients who require acute care, such as those with diabetic foot wounds. These wounds usually need to be cleaned and sometimes debrided (have non-viable tissue removed) with scalpels. We also perform minor surgical procedures under local anaesthetic, such as toenail surgery.

The conditions we treat can sometimes be quite challenging and we have to work closely with healthcare professionals to help address these. As Operational Lead for Inpatient Podiatry services, I help facilitate these collaborations with other healthcare professionals while managing the Podiatry team to help meet patients' needs.

Last but not least, I also mentor the Podiatrists under my supervision, which includes student Podiatrists from Australia and the UK. Managing a team can be tricky at times, especially when your team members are young. I’ve found that doing your best and proving your mettle is the best way to inspire and lead your team.

Share Some Of Your Thoughts On The Field Of Podiatry With Us.

Manfred: One common issue I see is that overseas Podiatrists may not be accustomed to the severity of some of the conditions we treat here at SGH, but I see that in a good way – if you can effectively treat some of our most challenging cases, then you have what it takes to be a good Podiatrist anywhere!

Looking forward, we are continuing to advance our treatment techniques and expand our treatment services. For instance, our current method of treating diabetic foot wounds is primarily with debridement but the additional option would be revascularisation (restoring circulation to the affected foot). This requires close collaboration with our vascular surgeons and is certainly a better option than amputation of the affected limb if gangrene sets in.

However, Podiatry is still not a very well-known field and its acceptance takes time. It is important to educate the public on the availability of podiatric techniques. We currently rely on many foreign professionals for our podiatry staffing and I hope to help create more awareness for the field and see more locals become Podiatrists.

Any Words Of Wisdom For Aspiring Healthcare Scholars?

Manfred: Healthcare is a challenging and interesting occupation, but is not always easy. Difficult decisions have to be made sometimes, especially when it comes to treatment – for instance, if a diabetic foot is gangrenous, there may be no option other than amputation.

Managing patient expectations is important when it comes to possible treatment outcomes, as patients may become disappointed and upset if they do not like what they hear. At the end of the day, empathy and patience are key to communicating effectively and working with patients to help overcome their foot ailments.