Healthia Limited has recently announced
Craig Page as the newly appointed General Manager of Podiatry. Craig has been in private practice in Brisbane since 2005 and holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) degree from Queensland University of Technology (2004). He is also one of the founders of the podiatry teams within the Healthia Group.
Craig brings a range of valuable experience to the role as General Manager of Podiatry having worked as a Podiatrist, Clinic Class Shareholder, Regional Partner and more recently his role as General Manager of Multi-Disciplinary during his 17-year long career. His ongoing commitment to providing excellence in patient care within the community will be of great benefit to this role and for the wider Healthia group.
We sat down with Craig to learn more about what he will bring to his new role and his understanding of the podiatry industry moving forward.
What has been your career highlight so far?
I have been very fortunate in my career as a Podiatrist and have had several career highlights. The two favourites of mine include being part of the medical team that assisted the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and providing acute Podiatry care to the Queensland State of Origin team during the series’ over the last few years.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Genuine, caring, and resilient.
What will be your priorities as GM of Podiatry in the short term?
My priorities as GM in the short term will be looking at ways that we can build on our culture and engagement, making our team of people feel valued and appreciated as part of the Healthia journey. I will also be looking at ways to promote the current career progression journey through formalised mentor programs and for those that are interested in Clinic Class Share ownership.
What is one piece of advice you would give to those considering a career in podiatry?
It is a profession that can be extremely rewarding knowing you are helping change and improve a person’s overall health and wellbeing. Being able to meet different and interesting people enables you to grow as an individual and equips you to further your career progression and personal growth.
With an aging population, do you see this driving strong growth in the supply & demand of podiatry services?
Yes absolutely. Since many foot conditions often develop with age, and are also associated with diabetes, the need for podiatrists therefore is expected to increase as the population ages.
If yes, how will you look to foster that growth?
Through clear communication to other health care providers on the integral part Podiatry plays in the overall health of people as they do get older. Community engagement will be a strong focus of mine as we highlight the benefits of our profession and what Podiatry can bring to a person’s overall health and wellbeing. In addition to this I would also like to break down some of the barriers within the community through continued education and promotion around reasons why a person would see a podiatrist.