Dr Colin Thomson graduated from Queen Margaret College in 1987 with a diploma in Chiropody, he then received a BSc(Hons) in Podiatric Medicine from the University of Westminster in 1992.  He gained his surgical fellowship of the College of Podiatrists (FCPod(S)) in 1996 and was awarded a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of York in 2005. 

Colin has lectured at QMU since 1993 and before this he worked for six years in London both in the NHS and in education.  Since May 2003, Colin has been employed, part time, as an extended scope podiatrist in the Orthopaedic Department at The Royal infirmary Edinburgh. His role on the undergraduate Podiatry programme is teaching the Podiatric Orthopaedics to level 2 and also Evidence Based Health Care to levels 2 and 4. Colin contributes to postgraduate courses and also has a clinical teaching commitment. He is research coordinator for the subject area of podiatry and chairs the podiatry postgraduate research ethics committe .

Colin was instrumental in establishing a specialist advisory board within the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh aimed at progressing podiatric surgery in Scotland. He is chair of the special interest group in orthopaedics within the NHS QIS Podiatry Practice Development Network.