Biographical Details About the Author

The site was created in 2013 as part of David’s clinical practice. Shortly afterwards, he established Footlocker to provide fact sheets for patients. The Clinician Portal was added to share technical information with professional colleagues, including medical personnel, and included published papers.

David has written professionally since leaving college in 1978. His [publications] have appeared in a wide range of journals. In 1995 and 1997, he published two podiatric medical texts with co-author Linda Merriman while on the teaching faculty at Nene College, now Northampton University. At the time, these texts were advanced and departed in a direction from previous texts, introducing more practical experience with a number of co-authors. 

Hear the author talking about his professional site HERE

Past Performance

He worked as a Consultant Podiatric Surgeon in the West Midlands from 1995 to 2018 and retired to write full-time. David has worked in education, the NHS, and the independent sectors. He ran an orthotic laboratory with his wife between 1981 and 1985 before going into teaching full-time. He also writes under the pseudonym RC Blyth, distinguishing his works of fiction. David developed the current PASCOM-10 audit system for the Royal College of Podiatry with Gavin Rudge in 2000.  He has lectured at UK universities and many locations worldwide.

In 1981, he won two awards to study in the USA.  His surgical fellowship in 1986 (FCPodS) led to setting up a surgery service in Northampton, then Walsall. He completed his Human Movement degree in 1988 and added his Master’s in Podiatric Surgery in 2016.

 

In 2012-14, he became Dean of the Faculty of Podiatric Surgery, Royal College of Podiatry (London), and was awarded a Fellowship in Podiatric Medicine (FCPM) in 2013. He was an affiliate of the University of Huddersfield until 2024.

He publishes articles on his website www.consultingfootpain.co.uk  and launched his new author website in July 2024. He has published books for health professionals and lay readers and fictional works. You can follow him on facebook @davidtollafield, LinkedIn, or X @myfootjourneys

 ‘Podiatrist on A Mission’ in March 2024, a novelised version of the profession. Watch his interview here about why the book needed to be written. 

 

David has also worked with the Institute of Podiatrists. He has written two books for them, “An Introduction to the Adult Foot” and “The Foot. A Professional Companion,” supporting their Foot Health Practitioner course. More recently, he has developed the FHP core curriculum.

As a long-time member of the Royal College of Podiatry, he has written for the organisation, served on the Council, been a Dean of the Faculty of Podiatry (Surgery), and developed their database for clinical activity (PASCOM).

 

The Fiction Writer

In 2024, he published his first fiction book and adopted the pseudonym RCBlyth. You can also follow him on X as @blyth_rc. Download his free book from the landing page THE ROD OF BLACKTHORN.

David is a professional speaker, has been a keen amateur Thespian, and a singer with a local  A Cappella group. His travels take him abroad and throughout his home country of England. He is married and lives in the South of England.

 

Published by Busypencilcase Reflective Communications & Publications. Est. 2015
Updated January 2025