Alfred Gatt qualified as a podiatrist in 1986. From 1987 till 1990 he set up and worked at the Diabetes Foot Clinic, which is still being run today at Mater Dei hospital. Since 1990 he was placed in charge of Podology Services within Department of Health, a position he has occupied for 20 years. In 1990 he became Manager Podology Service, responsible for the strategic planning, implementation and administration of all Podiatry services within the DH. Because of an extensive interest in Biomechanics, he started two new clinics while working as Manager: a once-weekly Rheumatoid Podiatric Clinic, at St Luke's Hospital and a twice-weekly Gait Assessment Clinic that included Foot Pressure Mapping for the first time in Malta, at the Podology Department at B'Kara Health Centre. Both clinics are still active to date.
In 2003 he obtained a Master's degree from the University of Brighton, with research entitled "The use of orthoses in the management of hindfoot pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis".
In 2008 he started a PhD at Staffordshire University, entitled "A Biomechanical Investigation of Ankle Joint Complex Dorsiflexion", which had such a profound effect on him that he changed over from management to becoming a full time academic in September 2010. He submitted his thesis in March 2012.
In 1999 he was founder President of the Association of Podiatrists of Malta. He is presently chairperson of the Diabetes Foot Research Group, which he has helped to launch in 2011.
His special interests include CADCAM orthoses, Foot Pressure Mapping, 3D motion capture, foot modeling and biomechanics of musculoskeletal foot conditions.
POD4015 - Metabolic and Neurological Disorders Affecting the Foot
POD5002 - Vascular Assessment of Lower Extremities
POD5054 - Principles of Biomechanics for Orthotics and Prosthetics
As chairperson of the Diabetes Foot Research Group, Alfred is involved in a new research initiative involving the use of thermography as a possible diagnostic and prognostic clinic tool in diabetic feet.
