On this episode of the Backyard OASIS Podcast, host Christine Copeland has a conversation Dr. Kate Clayton-Jones, founder and CEO of Footcare by Nurses, and Lee Wicks, a writer who translates Kate’s deep scientific knowledge into accessible language for the public, especially elders who can no longer care for their own feet. They talk about how understanding the health of your feet leads to understanding health in general, particularly issues of balance, posture and confidence. They also talk about the psychological benefit of the one-on-one relationship this nursing care provides for seniors.
Dr. Kaye Clayton Jones is the founder and CEO of FootCare by Nurses, a Greenfield-based company that provides foot care in Western Massachusetts, parts of Connecticut, Cape Cod, and the Islands. Kate and registered nurses who have received specialized training, attend to each patient with caring attention and a mission to improve quality of life and prevent more complicated health problems such as amputations.
Kate was motivated to start FootCare by Nurses because, as an acute care nurse, she saw too many people falling or having their toes or feet amputated from causes she thought were preventable with good nursing care. With a clear passion for better care of feet, a business background, and a mission of prevention, Kate began her journey to prove that nurses can take great care of feet and give everyone the best scientifically backed foot care possible.
In 2020 she received a PhD in nursing science from UMass, and in 2025 she graduated with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (UMass), and her capstone was on chronic pain and complicated grief.
She gave a TEDx talk in 2019 to raise awareness about caring for your feet and was nominated for the 2020 Massachusetts Woman’s Small Business Owner of the Year Award. Two years ago, she and two nurses greeted the walkers midway on Monte’s March for hunger and helped them tend to their sore feet. When she isn’t running the business, Kate can be found on the front lines developing out the science of foot care.
Learn more about Dr. Clayton Jones' work at https://footcarebynurses.net
Lee Wicks is a retired communications professional, a writer who has published a novel and a memoir, and a marketing consultant who works with Kate to help educate people about the vital importance of preventive ongoing footcare. She first met Kate at the end of covid-19 isolation when her neglected feet needed care. She was so impressed by the care and information she received that she approached Kate about a job just when Kate was looking for help with her marketing materials and the Footcare by Nurses website.
Lee is a retired person who still wants to be professionally engaged, and as a writer she relishes the challenge of translating Kate’s scientific knowledge into accessible language for the public, especially elders who can no longer care for their own feet.
In her free time Lee writes (she is working on a second memoir) spends time with friends, family and her giant dog Ziggy, swims, walks and takes classes at the Y.
Learn more about Lee Wicks' work at https://winningwriters.com/people/lee-wicks
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Photo credit:
Hosted by Christine Copeland
Produced by Alex Audette in the Multimedia Studios at Greenfield Community College in Franklin County, MA
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