A young university graduate from Inverness has scooped two top awards for her outstanding work in the field of podiatry.
Aimie Patience, 21, was presented with the prestigious Canonbury Award for academic excellence and the Algeos Award for clinical audit based on her studies at Queen Margaret University.
Since graduating, she has been appointed as one of six Arthritis Research UK allied health professional interns at Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds. She is based within the Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicines unit and is helping to carry out research around rheumatoid arthritis.
Miss Patience said: “I was delighted with my exam results this year and couldn’t believe I won both the academic awards. I loved studying podiatry at QMU. The lecturers were fantastic and the course is designed to ensure you leave as competent, confident podiatrists.
“The internship has provided so many opportunities for me, from meeting brilliant, influential people in the field of research and rheumatology, to getting stuck in with on-going projects, using state-of-the-art technology and working alongside a huge variety of professionals from consultants to engineers.”
After finishing her internship, she hopes to gain more clinical experience as a podiatrist specialising in rheumatic conditions affecting the foot and ankle, as well as looking into postgraduate study opportunities.
She added: “I’m passionate about the promotion of podiatry and other allied health professions that are so often overlooked in the medical profession.”