KELSEY Cook never envisaged her career in podiatry would lead to an opportunity to rub shoulders with health industry leaders from across the world.
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However, that's exactly what happened after a submitted abstract from her honours work led to her being selected to present at the International Diabetic Limb Salvage Conference in Washington, USA, earlier this year.
More than 900 experts from across the globe attended the conference, which ran from March 31 to April 2.
She now hopes her own achievements can show the way for another generation of regional students to pursue careers in health.
It was the first time Bulahdelah born-and-raised Kelsey had been to America, and she conceded it was a surprise to her that she was selected.
Kelsey, who graduated from Charles Sturt University's Albury Campus with a Bachelor of Podiatry (honours) in 2013, said she submitted an abstract of her work "on a whim" ahead of the conference.
She was shocked when she learned her submission had been accepted.
"It was something I never would have dreamed of," she said.
Kelsey's honours work involved the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease through podiatry examination.
Kelsey used a tool commonly used by general practitioners, the Australian Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Calculator, which gives clients a score for their likelihood of a heart issue such as a stroke or heart attack.
The tool looks at risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, age, gender, smoking status and diabetes status.
Using a toe cuff a commonly used podiatry tool vascular disease can be detected within the feet.
Comparing the results between the toe cuff and the cardiovascular risk score, a strong relationship was established.
It was this research that Kelsey presented at the conference, an opportunity that enabled Kelsey to compare podiatry research with other countries across the world.
"The standard of research being published and the scope of podiatry is always getting more advanced and this was so evident in the United States," she said.
"It is an exciting time to be in the profession and I was really proud to be a part of the conference."
Despite a hectic conference schedule, Kelsey also managed to fit in some well-deserved sight-seeing.
The conference was the latest development in Kelsey's career, which began when she accepted a post-graduate position with Queensland Health working in remote communities around the state.
She currently works in Taree at Mid Coast Podiatry, and said she hoped her own success was a lesson to children growing up in rural and regional areas.
"If anything I do can encourage country kids to pursue a career in health, that'd just be amazing," she said.
lachlan.leeming@fairfaxmedia.com.au