Hospital director wins national award for supporting careers in podiatry

A hospital director has won a national award for the inspiring way he has developed his career and supported the podiatry profession.

Prof Ganesh Baliah, the Director of Allied Health Professions for the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, has won the Podiatry Career Champion category at the The Royal College of Podiatry Awards 2026.

Allied Health Professions include a wide variety of health professions including podiatrists, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, speech and language therapists, operating department practitioners, prosthetists and orthotists.

He was nominated for the award by two consultant podiatric surgeons and two leading academics from Leeds and Southampton universities for the way he has supported the profession.

He said: “Finding out I had been nominated, and then made it to the Royal College finals, was a great surprise. I did know something was going on though because my colleagues had asked for a copy of my CV.

“I went to the finals of the awards on June 12 at the Royal Institution in Mayfair, London. I  was then even more surprised and emotional when I was announced as the winner, particularly given how much of a contribution the other finalists had made.

“It was an immense honour to receive this award and a great validation for me of all the work I have done over the years and incredible to be recognised and nominated by your peers.

“I did briefly wonder whether it was a polite way of telling me to finally put my feet up! But no, it was a genuine recognition of my work as a Podiatrist and with other AHPs.  Podiatry & AHPs changes lives every day, and helping people discover the profession and thrive within it is one of the most rewarding parts of my role.”

Ganesh has been working in podiatry and podiatric surgery – dealing with foot and ankle problems – for 16 years and maintains his registration with the Royal College by continuing to practice clinically.

He has also branched out into leadership work to support the profession becoming a Clinical Fellow for Health Education England and then the Regional Head of Associated Healthcare Professions for the Midlands and East of England.

Other achievements have included becoming Chief of Allied Health Professions for Suffolk and North-East Essex Integrated Care Board, an Honorary Professorship from the University of Essex, and working as a Non-Executive Director of Milton Keynes Hospital.

He became Director of Allied Health Professions at the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire in 2024.

He said: “My main focus has been transformation of the Allied Health Professions workforce in ways that champion the professions.

“I have also been deeply involved in the education of the workforce and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.”

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire’s Interim Chief Nurse, Robin Binks, said: “We are delighted that Ganesh, and his amazing work over so many years, has been recognised at the Royal College of Podiatry’s annual national awards.

“He has been a truly inspirational champion of allied health professionals and has done a lot to encourage career development and education at the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.”