Clinical and leadership team

Following completion of undergraduate training and postgraduate Basic Surgical Training in Glasgow, Colin trained as a Specialist Registrar in Trauma and Orthopaedics in Aberdeen and Inverness. This was followed by further specialty training at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

He has spent over 10 years as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon within NHS Highland and has been closely involved in the NTC Highland project since its inception. Colin has played an active role in training the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons throughout his consultant career.

Fiona qualified as a RGN at the Western School of Nursing and Midwifery in Glasgow in 1993. After qualifying she went on to work in London then joined the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps and served over 18 years as a Nursing Officer in the Army.

Fiona specialised as a Theatre Nurse and was Defence Nurse Advisor for the specialty. She experienced operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Afghanistan as lead nurse in the operating theatre.

Since leaving the Army, Fiona has worked at the Highland Hospice and as an Adult Nurse Lecturer at University of the Highlands and Islands. Fiona is passionate about working as a team, with a focus on excellence in patient centred care.

Zoe Gibbins qualified as a nurse in 2009 and has worked across surgical and medical areas in Forth Valley, Lothian, North West Anglia and Highland.

Zoe took her first band 6 post in Cambridgeshire in 2019 working in mixed surgical and trauma orthopaedics before returning to Scotland to work in Inverness in ENT and Ophthalmology.

During her time as a Deputy Charge Nurse in England and as a Senior Staff Nurse in Scotland, Zoe found a keen interest in staff development and education, and enjoyed aspects of her job where she could support staff and students in the development of their skills.

Zoe is now undertaking her PG Cert in Education at University of the Highlands and Islands. She now has the role of Clinical Nurse Educator in the NTC where she will oversee staff education and training in the departments of Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology.

Carrie trained as a nurse in Inverness and qualified 24 years ago. She spent the first 20 years in orthopaedics, mainly in elective surgery, then felt like a new challenge so moved into general surgery for 3 years.

Carrie is now the Senior Charge Nurse for the inpatient ward at the NTC, dedicated to providing a first class service for patients.

Carrie has first-hand experience of the positive impact that the types of surgery the NTC provide can have on patients' lives and is looking forward making a difference.

Christina trained as a Registered Nurse at the Western Infirmary and Gartnavel Hospitals in Glasgow in 1987, and worked within the surgical and medical departments, where she had her first experience of ophthalmology nursing.

In 2016 Christina relocated to NHS Highland to work in the ophthalmology department at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. She is now the Senior Charge Nurse of the ophthalmology department for NTC Highland where she will lead and encourage staff to flourish and achieve their maximum potential and help develop the nurses of the future.

After leaving the Royal Navy in 2009, where he was an Air Engineering Technician, Mike took on a student Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) post at Raigmore Hospital as part of a two-year diploma with Glasgow Caledonian University.

Once qualified, he performed a dual role in anaesthetics and colorectal scrub for 4 years before specialising in anaesthetics and then becoming a band 6 in 2019. During this time, Mike was seconded to Senior Charge Practitioner at Raigmore to cover the role during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike is now the Senior Charge Practitioner for theatres in the NTC where he will oversee all disciplines of theatre for orthopaedics and ophthalmology.

Helen trained as a physiotherapist at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh and qualified in 1988. She specialised in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and worked in various hospital, GP practice, university and sporting settings throughout her clinical career.

Helen became the manager for the orthopaedic service within NHS Highland in 2015. In 2020, she began work with the Scottish Government as the Workforce Development Lead for the National Treatment Centre Programme.