Robert Thompson, a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of preventive foot health, has joined the Board of Directors of the Pedorthic Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charity that provides support for pedorthic education, research, practitioner recognition, and special projects.

 

He began his career as a teaching hospital administrator, after earning his master's in professional studies with a concentration in hospital and health services administration at Cornell University. After an eight-year track record, he became chief executive of a multi-specialty medical group practice, where he spent two decades. He then served as a divisional vice president of a medical software development company, and concurrently held a teaching appointment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Medicine.

 

After 30 years in healthcare administration, Thompson earned double certification in pedorthics and became a consultant to the doctors practicing in his and surrounding medical communities, while simultaneously providing a special personal ministry of care to the feet of diabetic patients.

 

In 2008, Thompson became executive director of the Institute for Preventive Foot Health (IPFH), a non-profit health education and research foundation. In that capacity, he has taken to a national audience the Institute's message of preventive foot health care, foot protection, and foot soft tissue invury prevention. As IPFH's public face and voice, he has spoken to groups and organizations throughout the U.S. He has also participated in the Institute's “Walking Partners”® initiative, traveling to Brookdale Senior Living retirement communities in Cleveland, Chicago, Phoenix and Tucson. Thompson also helped   design andcoorinate the Institute's NPD National Foot Health Assessment research study, which analyzed the intensity and prervasiveness of foot problems in America's adult population.

 

“IPFH works to help people achieve greater quality of life as we age,” Thompson says, “which is also a goal of pedorthics. It makes perfect sense to be involved with the both non-profit groups, and I am delighted to accept the Pedorthic Foundation's invitation to join the Board of Directors.”

 

“We feel equally delighted to have access to Bob's insights and experience,” said Pedorthic Foundation vice president Dennis Janisse, C.Ped. “I have known Bob for many years, and I know the depth of his commitment and passion for the care of the human foot. The fact that he took the time to become certified in pedorthics through both ABC and BOC is a testament to his understanding of the importance pedorthics can make to quality of life, and his private work helping diabetes patients care for their feet is a great example of his commitment.”

 

The Foundation's newest special project, “Feet for Life,” is a pilot program that will provide shoes to people who have diabetes and limited financial resources.