Stephen Ryan and Mark are the co-owners of Foot Focus Podiatry, a thriving clinic based in Dublin, dedicated to providing top-quality care for a wide range of foot and lower limb conditions. Both have a strong passion for sports and health, which ultimately led them to pursue careers in podiatry, each taking a unique path that converged to form Foot Focus. Together, they combine their expertise and experience to offer a holistic approach to foot care, ensuring their patients can lead pain-free, active lives. 

Stephen Ryan, originally from Knocklyon, Dublin, has always been an active individual. Growing up, he was involved in various sports, including Gaelic football with Ballyboden, hurling and Gaelic football in National School, and rugby during his secondary school years. His passion for sports played a significant role in his decision to pursue podiatry as a profession. After qualifying as a podiatrist, Stephen faced a challenge – at that time, podiatry wasn’t offered as a degree course in Ireland. To pursue his passion, he moved to Edinburgh to complete his studies, spending four years in the city and gaining valuable experience in the field of foot care and how to treat its associated pain. 

Stephen’s interest in podiatry was sparked by his personal experiences with recurring injuries while playing sports. Whether it was Gaelic, rugby, or athletics, he found himself struggling with knee and ankle injuries that never seemed to fully heal. Despite seeing chiropractors and physiotherapists, the injuries kept reoccurring, leaving him with a deep sense of frustration. It was during a visit to his GP that he was recommended to see a podiatrist who had recently joined the practice. After undergoing an assessment, which involved a walking analysis and muscle testing, Stephen was fitted with a pair of custom orthotics. This treatment provided him with a long-term solution to his injuries, allowing him to return to his sports with renewed confidence, knowing he wouldn’t be sidelined by injury again. 

This transformative experience inspired Stephen to shadow the podiatrist at their clinic, where he discovered that podiatry involved much more than treating sports injuries. He was exposed to a wide variety of cases, from athletes working toward personal goals like completing a 5K or a 10K to individuals seeking treatment for foot conditions such as corns, calluses, or ingrown nails. Stephen quickly realised the power of podiatry to improve the quality of life for many people, and he knew it was the right path for him. After completing his studies in Edinburgh, Stephen returned to Dublin and began working with the same podiatrist he had shadowed. His experience there solidified his desire to eventually open his own clinic, leading to the creation of Foot Focus Podiatry. 

Mark, co-owner of Foot Focus Podiatry, has always shared his brother’s passion for sports. Growing up, Mark was also active in rugby, Gaelic football, and hurling. However, his journey into podiatry was slightly different. Initially, he pursued a commerce degree and worked in banking after graduation. He found himself in a role that left him disconnected and unfulfilled. Spending long hours at a computer without meaningful interaction with others, Mark realised that banking wasn’t the career he envisioned for himself. During this time, Stephen, who was studying in Edinburgh, shared his experiences with Mark, describing his work with a variety of patients and the satisfaction of helping people achieve their goals and overcome pain they had for years. Mark was intrigued by the opportunity to work more closely with people, so he decided to follow in Stephen’s footsteps and return to Edinburgh to study podiatry. 

After completing his studies, Mark moved back to Dublin and began his career, focusing primarily on musculoskeletal issues such as foot and ankle pain. While Stephen had been focusing on skin and nail treatments, Mark’s work involved treating conditions like sprains, strains, and sports injuries. The two podiatrists exchanged ideas and learned from each other’s experiences, and soon they realised that combining their areas of expertise would provide a comprehensive range of services for their patients. This led to the creation of Foot Focus Podiatry, where they could offer both musculoskeletal and skin-based podiatric treatments under one roof. 

Foot Focus Podiatry has since grown into a trusted clinic, offering a broad range of services to individuals of all ages and activity levels. Whether patients are looking to recover from an injury, manage a chronic condition, or simply improve their mobility, Foot Focus provides personalised care tailored to meet each person’s needs. With their combined expertise, Stephen and Mark are proud to help people lead healthier, more active lives.