Professor Derek Santos (BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in the Dietetics, Nutrition & Biological Sciences, Physiotherapy, Podiatry & Radiography Division. He is also an Associate member of the Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research.
- Overview
- Research Interests
- Research Publications
- Teaching & Learning
Dr Derek Santos graduated at Queen Margaret University in 1998 with a 1st class BSc (Hons) in Podiatry, he then received his PhD 2006 where he developed and validated an experimental system to assess the effects of plantar foot pressure on skin blood flow. Derek’s interest in musculoskeletal conditions affecting the foot and ankle led him to undertake and complete his MSc Podiatric Surgery in 2015. His other area of interest is diabetes where he contributes to postgraduate teaching. Derek has also completed a number of other postgraduate courses including intra and extra-articular joint injections; kinesiotaping; and acupuncture in the lower limb.
Derek has lectured at QMU since 2003 and before this he worked in Private Practice and was Audit Coordinator for the NHS Borders Health Board, Scotland. He currently teaches in the undergraduate BSc (Hons) Podiatry programme and is programme leader for the MSc Diabetes. Derek contributes to postgraduate education as the Module Coordinator for the university wide Research Methods module as well as supervision of doctoral research. Derek is also contributing to national and international research projects.
Within the area of Research Ethics Derek is currently the Vice-Convener of the QMU Research Ethics Committee. In addition, Derek is an experienced expert member of the NHS Research Ethics Committee for the South East of Scotland since 2010. He is an external reviewer for various medical journals and also for research grant applications to the NHS National Institute of Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Studies.
Derek also has clinical commitments at QMU and within the NHS and is responsible for the Musculoskeletal undergraduate teaching clinic at QMU.
Finally, Derek is an experienced external examiner both at post-graduate and doctoral level. He is currently external examiner for the School of Medicine, University of Dundee, UK and for the School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, UK.
Affiliations/Memberships to Other Organisations:
- Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
Professional Social Media:
Research/Knowledge Exchange Centre Membership:
- Associate member of the Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research
Derek is the research lead for Podiatry and his research interests include musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes, ethics, gait analysis, and blood flow in the lower limb. He is active in these areas of research supervising student projects at undergraduate and postgraduate level in addition to other funded studies (both at national and international level). More recently Derek has been collaborating with industry.
Active Research Interests:
- Musculoskeletal
- Diabetes
- Blood flow
- Gait analysis and management
Research Methods:
- Experimental and quasi-experimental studies (eg RCTs)
- Research ethics
Primary teaching areas at undergraduate level is the BSc (Hons) Podiatry. At postgraduate level it’s the MSc Diabetes; MSc Podiatry; MSc Podiatric Surgery and the university wide postgraduate Research Methods education. Derek's seminars and lectures focus on Locomotory Science, Podiatric Mechanics, Management of Diabetes and its complications and Musculoskeletal Conditions, amongst other topics.
Program Leader:
MSc Diabetes
