Stuart Baird

Professor

Subject Leader Podiatry

Prof Stuart Baird is Professor of Podiatric Medicine at Glasgow Caledonian University and has a special interest in Diabetes and its effects on the lower limb and foot. As well as being an academic he is actively involved as a practising podiatrist within the multidisciplinary team at the Diabetic Foot Clinic, Centre for Diabetes and Metabolism, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow.

Stuart has been in an academic for over 30 years and has worked in a number of academic institutions in the UK and abroad ‌before returning to Glasgow Caledonian University in 1995. He is respected nationally and internationally in the field of diabetes and diabetic foot disease and continues to remain clinically active in this area. Additionally he is respected internationally for his academic vision and is held in high esteem by his profession for his commitment to Podiatric Medicine and the wider international Podiatric profession. In addition to his academic role Stuart was elected as Chairman of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and the College of Podiatry in the UK in 2010 and has been responsible for many key developments including the establishment of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine within the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Podiatric membership of the Science Council and he has successfully coordinated a number of political lobbying campaigns within the Government of the United Kingdom. Additionally Stuart is currently Vice President of the International Academy of Podiatric Medical Educators.

Policy Advice: Diabetic Foot Management

Stuart was first appointed as a “Short Term Consultant” in the field of diabetic foot disease by the World Health Organisation in 2004. His first assignment was to carry out a review of diabetic foot management in Oman and to train physicians, surgeons and nurses in the assessment and management of diabetic foot disease. The mission concluded with the submission of a substantive report to the Ministry of Health in Muscat, Oman and to the World Health Organisation, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office based in Cairo .He has subsequently been asked to carry out a further two assignments for the WHO in the field of diabetic foot disease.

Education: Diabetic Foot Management

In July 2010 Stuart was awarded a grant from the South Asia Development Fund, Scottish Government. One of only 2 innovation grants awarded, it funded a pilot diabetic foot management project, delivered in conjunction with four partner institutions in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Following completion of the pilot project in March 2011, approximately 350 physicians attended the programme, a number of trainers were identified in each metro region and the pilot project evaluated against pre determined criterion. Stuart has just completed a second programme in diabetic foot management in India this time in Travibdrum and Calicut in the southern state of Kerala.

Stuart successfully negotiated an educational contract with the Medical School, University of Malaya, to write and deliver a programme in diabetic foot management. The programme formed a component module of a post graduate diploma in Rehabilitation Practice, awarded by the University Malaya. The programme provided doctors and nurses with the key skills required in the management diabetic foot disease and was delivered in Kuala Lumpur. This pioneering programme was the first to deliver this type of education in Malaysia.

For the last 10 years Stuart has provided education in the field of diabetic foot disease to physicians surgeons in Egypt, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Oman

Research: Diabetic Foot Disease

Stuart is on the Board of Governors of the “Skin Tissue Repository” at Glasgow Caledonian University. The research associated with this repository is primarily involved in studying the effects of the protein Conexin 43 on wound healing in diabetic ulcers. Additional research interests include; the action of urea cream in improving hydration levels on anhydrotic skin associated with diabetes; the action of urea cream in improving elasticity on scar tissue post ulceration as a result of diabetic foot disease; the assessment of small muscle atrophy in the foot associated with motor neuropathy as a consequence of diabetes.

Consultancy

Stuart has provided consultancy services to a number of major companies and research bodies in the field of diabetic foot disease including ITI Techmedia (Scottish Enterprise), Exomedica and Promedics. Much of the consultancy work carried out in this area is covered by non disclosure agreements.

Presentations

Over the last 10 years Stuart has presented almost 100 international presentations in 13 Countries around the globe. The lectures have been primarily in the field of diabetic foot disease and have included a number of key note presentations. In 2010 he has presented key note lectures in diabetic foot disease in Cairo Egypt, Muscat Oman and Hyderabad India.