Mrs Andrea Gledhill

Consultant Podiatric Surgeon

Andrea is a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon and healthcare leader with over 20 years’ experience across advanced clinical practice, surgical innovation, education, research and strategic leadership, with a particular focus on the high-risk foot, limb preservation and amputation prevention.

She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery at the Royal College of Podiatry and the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. With more than 14 years’ experience in postgraduate education and surgical skills training, Andrea is also a national Tutor for the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery.

Her career has extended beyond clinical practice into healthcare strategy, workforce development, service transformation and research. In 2022, she led the Royal College of Podiatry’s national workforce review, contributing to future workforce and education planning across the UK.

Andrea now combines her clinical and academic experience with an international role as Global Medical Affairs Director for Chronic Wounds, translating frontline clinical insight into global medical strategy, evidence generation, education, research collaboration and healthcare innovation.

Her research interests centre on diabetic foot disease, prevention, limb preservation and shared decision-making, with ongoing PhD development exploring the role of prophylactic surgery in preventing diabetic foot ulceration.

Throughout her career, Andrea’s focus has remained the same: preventing avoidable ulceration and limb loss and improving outcomes for people with high-risk feet through clinical excellence, education, innovation and collaboration.

Bill & Pam: The Power of Prevention
The independent podiatrist, the prevention pathway and the ulcer that never happened?

Through the contrasting journeys of Bill and Pam, this session explores the pivotal role independent podiatrists can play in preventing diabetic foot ulceration before it begins. Moving beyond traditional foot care, we will consider how early identification of risk, proactive intervention, patient education and timely escalation can change the trajectory of the diabetic foot.

The session will explore how prevention can become a defined part of independent podiatry practice — creating structured pathways for risk assessment, surveillance and intervention, while demonstrating the clinical and commercial value of preventative care.

Ultimately, success in diabetic foot care should not only be measured by the wounds we heal, but by the ulcers that never happen.