David shares his lifelong calling to osteopathy, one that began at just 14 years old when he sought treatment for a football-related back injury. “I knew then that I wanted to be an osteopath and share the benefits I had experienced with others.”  

That early experience shaped his entire career. Today, David leads City Way Health Clinic in Rochester, a thriving multidisciplinary practice built on teamwork, innovation, and a relentless commitment to patient care.  

His involvement in the iO Better Business Group, where he works closely with the now iO President, Daniel Collis, and other executive team members, has propelled his motivation to join the iO Council. “I realised they were interested in working with my experience in running a successful clinic. It gave me confidence that I had something valuable to offer,” he says.  

David believes prioritising the iO’s five-year strategic plan is key to securing the future of osteopathy in the UK. Like Claire, he values mentoring new graduates and helping other clinic owners develop practices to ensure long-term success.  

“We yearn to be respected alongside other healthcare professionals, and collaboration—not competition—is the key to that,” he explains. “Sharing successes, learning from other healthcare sectors, and elevating our profession’s standing within the UK health system are all critical steps.”  

David is fervent about osteopathic education. Higher institutions are needing to adapt, and he believes the iO can safeguard the profession’s future by ensuring students have access to high-quality training and career development opportunities.  

His message to the osteopathic community? “We are Team Osteopathy. We can create a strong, respected, and thriving profession by fostering collaboration, supporting each other, and championing excellence.” 

Osteopathy wasn’t a straightforward path for Claire, but she never looked back on the decision that moulded the next 34 years of her career.  

“I am as enthusiastic as ever about our wonderful profession,” she says. That enthusiasm has been a driving force behind her work. The Kent and East Sussex Osteopaths Regional Group (KESO), which Claire leads, won the 2024 iO Collaboration in Practice Award, this is just the tip of the iceberg as to how deep her enthusiasm goes: it is across mentoring, education, and professional collaboration.  

Claire founded The Kent and East Sussex Osteopaths Regional Group (KESO), 13 years ago and she is still leading the group with has grown into a thriving community of over 250 members, offering regular events, professional development, and a strong peer support network. It started as a simple seed of an idea to create a supportive network for regional osteopaths. Now, she wishes to bring this difference to a national level, putting her expertise in mentoring, regional leadership, and collaboration to the forefront.  

Supporting new graduates and encouraging more young people to pursue osteopathy as a career is a distinctive topic that she supports. “New graduates are the foundation of our profession,” she says. “We must provide them with the tools and confidence to thrive in practice.”  

Strong communication and collaboration are essential for building a supportive and successful profession: “Spreading the word, asking for feedback, and finding new ways to support each other—these are the cornerstones of professional growth.”  

Claire’s true specialty is paediatric osteopathy. She is a trained breastfeeding counsellor and tongue-tie assessor, which allows her to provide specialised support for babies and parents facing feeding challenges.  

Her work in paediatrics has given her a deep appreciation for the impact osteopathy can have on early childhood health and development. She believes that as osteopathy continues to gain recognition within the NHS and mainstream healthcare, there will be more opportunities for osteopaths to work within hospital settings and multidisciplinary teams.  

“The iO is doing incredible work to raise public and professional awareness of osteopathy,” she says. “I’m excited to see how we can continue integrating into the healthcare system and increasing patient accessibility.”  

It is an exciting and pivotal time for Claire and David to step into their leadership; we look forward to their influence and deep-rooted passion to help guide the profession into a new era of growth, recognition, and success.  

Please join us in warmly welcoming David and Claire to the iO Council!