Roger Grech
St Lukes Foot Clinic and Counties Manukau Health
Roger is a private practice podiatrist based in Auckland who also works in the secondary care setting with Diabetes Patients. Over his career, he has had a major impact on not only graduate podiatrists through his mentoring but all the other health professionals he comes into contact with. He is respected and seen as a credible and well-respected health professional who puts podiatry in the spotlight (in a good way) within the health sector. A real champion of the profession, a tireless advocate and a supporter of all. Roger is a font of all knowledge and willingly gives his time to encourage and mentor anyone who needs him.
His passion for podiatry saw Roger presented with a lifetime award for the New Zealand Podiatry industry and nominated as a finalist for the leadership award at the 2021 PodiatryNZ Formthotics Excellence awards.
Questions & Answers
Q. Why did you choose podiatry?
A. I was in my last year at high school and wasn’t sure about my career path until a vocational guidance officer visited my school and asked me about my favourite subjects. I explained to her I was interested in the sciences and particularly human anatomy and biology. I remember telling her that I wanted to work with people and would be drawn to something involving a health science! Without hesitation, she suggested 'Podiatry' and here I am many years later, still enjoying my chosen profession of being a podiatrist!
Q. Who has been your main inspiration in podiatry?
A. I have been inspired by a number of people throughout the years, including Dr David Armstrong, world-renowned international speaker and guru on the diabetic foot and our own Victor Scaniglia, who was a fabulous mentor to all of the young podiatrists in Auckland at the time that I graduated in the eighties.
Q. What is the most common condition you treat?
A. In my own private practice, it would probably be good old plantar fasciitis, various tendinopathies, sprained ankles, Sever’s disease and of course, a multitude of skin conditions, including various nail disorders. At the foot ulcer clinic situated at Counties Manukau Health, the most common conditions would definitely be diabetic foot wounds and infections.In my own private practice, it would probably be good old plantar fasciitis, various tendinopathies, sprained ankles, Sever’s disease and of course, a multitude of skin conditions, including various nail disorders. At the foot ulcer clinic situated at Counties Manukau Health, the most common conditions would definitely be diabetic foot wounds and infections.
Q. What has been the most unusual condition you have seen?
A. I have seen many unusual conditions, including several types of previously undiagnosed tumours involving skin, bone and the nail matrix. Also, unusual wounds are often due to systemic causes such as Calciphylaxis and Necrobiosis Lipoidica. I have seen some very extreme examples of foot deformities caused by Charcot joints as a complication of diabetes. In my private practice, some interesting paediatric pathologies such as slipped capital femoral epiphysis and tarsal coalitions.
Q. What is your favourite treatment that gets the best result?
A. One of my favourite treatments would have to be chemical matricetomy for painful ingrown toenails. Also orthotic therapy can produce great results as well as radial pressure wave therapy for various musculoskeletal disorders.
Q. What advice would you give your newly qualified self?
A. My best advice is to introduce yourself to as many practitioners as possible and frequently interact with your peers. Do not professionally isolate yourself and attend as many meetings and conferences as possible. Develop a love of learning and keep interested in your profession by enthusiastically attending seminars and regularly reading clinical articles. Consider doing post-graduate studies.
Q. What are you most proud of in your career?
A. I think helping to set up the diabetic foot ulcer clinic and multidisciplinary team at Counties Manukau gave me the most satisfaction as there were many challenges and obstacles in the beginning. Also, running a successful private practice has been very rewarding. More latterly I have really enjoyed mentoring young graduates and hopefully offering them some encouragement and support to help facilitate their professional journey.
Q. What would people be surprised to know about you?
A. I have a black belt in karate and love peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
Q. What’s the funniest thing that has happened with a patient?
A. I went to sit on my chair once to start treating a patient but misjudged the position of the chair and ended up on my backside in a heap drenched in Isopropyl alcohol. I didn’t think it was that funny, but the patient thought it was hilarious!
Q. What can a new podiatrist do to connect with the profession?
A. I would say join your professional organisation as soon as you can afford to do so. It can be very lonely and discouraging battling on your own as a new graduate. Contact established podiatrists and offer to sit in on some of their clinics and even offer to do some unpaid work so that you get to know how various clinics operate, who knows, this may result in a job offer if you present well and are enthusiastic.
Q. Who’s the most famous person you have treated, you are allowed to mention?
A. I can’t mention names, but I have treated high profile politicians and a well-known musician who was a member of a famous band in the 1980s however most of my patients are not famous or elite athletes, but that is just fine with me as everyone with foot pain and pathology deserves to have access to good treatment. One of my favourite patients was Kashin the elephant in the late 1990s she was high maintenance but a joy to work with!