Kimberley Andrew, DC

During the first five years of my nursing career, I had the privilege of working in long-term care, striving to establish meaningful connections with seniors and contribute to their well-being.

This experience opened my eyes to an amazing opportunity. Canada’s aging population, coupled with the sharp rise in the prevalence of diabetes, means demand for professional foot care is surging and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

My life-transforming decision to focus on professional foot care was also driven by a desire for career independence. Like many nurses, I wanted more flexible hours and working conditions so I could spend more time with my family. I also sought to amplify the tremendous sense of accomplishment all nurses feel when health and well-being flourishes under their care. Specializing in foot care offered the potential to make my career aspirations a reality.

And so, in 2019, I stepped up and opened my own nursing foot care company, Best Foot Forward, in Carleton Place, Ontario, a small city about 30 kms west of Ottawa. This clinic was the first in our community and region to offer a full range of specialized foot care services.

From day one of the clinic’s operation, my goal was to raise the standard of foot care in a diverse range of areas including caring for seniors, children, athletes, addressing foot pain, and helping patients with health conditions such as diabetes.

Over the past five years, I have undertaken extensive training aimed at achieving that objective and hold certifications in range of techniques, such as:

• Advanced and Diabetic Foot Care

• Treatment of Ingrown Toenails

• Treatment of Onychomycosis

• Writing Policies and Procedures

• Nail Bracing Certification

• Onyfix Nail Correction

• Photodynamic Therapy

• Compression Therapy

• Podiatry Burr and Drill Certification

• Swift Microwave Therapy

• LCN Nail Reconstruction

The clinic flourished. And, over time, the pathway to “next level” foot care became clear. Foot health is closely connected to other health issues such as joint and back pain, osteoarthritis, gait disorders, and pre- and post-surgical procedures. It became obvious to me that a multidisciplinary approach held the greatest potential for superior patient outcomes in terms of enhancing health and mobility while minimizing pain and discomfort.

I reached out to other local health care providers to explore potentials for collaboration. And, in 2022, I partnered with Dr. Sam Cooper, DC, a wonderfully skilled chiropractor, and opened FIT Healthcare, a collaborative, clinic providing Medical Foot Care, Chiropractic Care, Physiotherapy and Registered Massage under one roof.

Since its founding, our clinic, which is one of a very few health care facilities in Canada offering foot care in combination with an array of other treatment disciplines, has undergone tremendous growth and patients report consistently high levels of satisfaction.

Operating FIT Healthcare is a dream application of nursing skills that reflects my deep-rooted belief in holistic health care and collaboration.

I hope you will join me on the quest for the ultimate standard in foot care – where a warm and friendly approach meets total dedication to making our patients’ lives better.

Together, we can push back the boundaries and build collaborative relationships to advance the health, comfort and happiness of our patients.