Biography
Simon Otter qualified from Wessex School of Podiatry in Southampton and worked in the NHS for nine years, working in the areas of high-risk foot care, nail surgery and musculoskeletal medicine. Simon completed his MSc in 2000, and took up an academic teaching post at University of Brighton the same year.
Simon’s clinical/academic interest include rheumatology with experience of musculoskeletal foot complaints, with expertise in ultrasound imaging and steroid injections.
Awarded a PhD in 2008, Simon has been involved in a range of research projects centred around the epidemiology of foot complaints in musclo-skeletal disorders and the impact these have on the individual.
Having led the MSc Podiatry programme at Brighton from 2006-12, Simon has been the podiatry advisor to Arthritis Care, and the England men’s senior blind football team. He was part of the team that provided podiatry care for the London 2012 Olympic/Paralympic Games and volunteered as part of the medical team at the London Marathon.
Simon was the Assistant Head of School at Brighton prior to an International research sabbatical in New Zealand. Having won a University learning & teaching award in 2019, he has taught into a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for both allied health professionals and medical students across the University.
Current Activity
In 2022 Simon joined Health Sciences University as Associate Professor for Podiatry, leading our new pre-registration MSc in podiatry. Simon is keen to embed this new programme within the local and regional health economy as part of the University college recent new course developments.
Simon is also a member of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Devices at the University of Brighton where they are exploring new wound dressings. As part of his expertise in gout, he has recently completed research utilising ultrasonography to explore the impact of gout on the foot and lower limb, and is extending this work to MRI outcomes. He is keen to develop these collaborations at Health Sciences University.
Qualifications 
Qualifications
- PhD
- PGCert Academic Practice
- MSc Podiatry
- BSc (Hons) Podiatric Studies
- Diploma in Podiatric Medicine
Membership
Membership
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Fellow of the Royal College of Podiatry
- HCPC Registered
- Member of the Royal Society of Medicine
- Member of British Society of Rheumatology
Research Interest
Research Interest
- Inflammatory arthritis (specifically gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus)
- Podiatry Eduction
- Wound Healing
- Patient Outcomes
Research
Research
University of Brighton collaboration
A biomimetic macromolecular platform for tissue healing and diagnostics at medical device interfaces: a personalised wound dressing model (EPRSC grant £2,886,291)
Brighton & Sussex Medical school collaboration
An MRI pilot study of calf muscle morphology and function in people with gout
Publications
Publications
- Bendall K, Agalliu B, Otter S. Foot and Ankle Characteristics in Gout: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Orthopedic Research and Reviews. 2021 18;1-21
- Rome K, Otter S, Disparities in foot care—is inflammatory arthritis still a poor relation? Rheumatology Advances in Practice 2021 5(1)
- Whitham D, Whitham S, Trowell M, Otter S, Podiatry as a career in the UK – what attracts Generation Z? A qualitative exploration with university and college students Journal of Foot & Ankle Research 2021 14
- Carey N, Edwards J, Otter S, Gage H, Williams P, Courtenay M, Moore A, Stenner K, A comparative case study of prescribing and non-prescribing physiotherapists and podiatrists BMC Health Services Research (2020) 20:1074
- Otter SJ, Payne C, Jones A-M, Webborn N, Watt P, Differences in Achilles tendon stiffness in people with gout BMC Musculoskeletal disorders 2020 21 (1) 658-62
- Austen T, Otter S, The podiatric surgery theatre environment in the UK; is it conducive to learning? A quantitative study using the surgical theatre educational environment measure (STEEM) 2019 J Foot and Ankle Res 12:4
- Pierce S, Haq I, Otter S, Is Social Media the Answer to the Support Desired by People with Rheumatoid Arthritis? Advances in Rheum & Orthopaed 2018 2 1-10
- Stenner K, Edwards J Mold F, Otter S, Courtney M, Moor A, Carey N, Medicines management activity with physiotherapy and podiatry: A systematic mixed studies review. Health Policy 2018 122 (12) 1333-1339.
- Stewart S, Dalbeth N, Otter S, Gow P, Kumar S, Rome K, Clinically-evident tophi are associated with reduced muscle force in the foot and ankle in people with gout: a cross-sectional study J Foot and Ankle Res 2017 10:25
- Book Chapters (2017-2022):
- Otter S, Whitham D, Rome K, The Feet and Lupus Chapter 14 p113-116 IN: Norton E, Lupus Diagnosis and Treatment Lupus UK 2019
- Editorials (2017-2022):
- Rome K, Otter S. Disparities in foot care – is inflammatory arthritis still a poor relation? Rheumatology Advances in Practice. 2021 Feb 10;5(1)
