Rate My Professor Benjamin Peterson

Dr. Benjamin Peterson is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Course for Podiatry in the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQUniversity, Rockhampton North, where he joined in January 2022. He earned his Bachelor of Podiatry in 2015, Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) in 2016, and Doctor of Philosophy in 2022, all from the University of Newcastle, Australia. His doctoral research centered on identifying intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing the risk of running-related injury among recreational runners. Prior to his current role, Peterson served at the University of Newcastle as Associate Lecturer and Clinical Educator from 2018 to 2021, Research Assistant from 2016 to 2021, and Casual Academic from 2016 to 2018. Concurrently, he practiced as a clinical podiatrist in various settings, including private clinics, local health districts, and outreach programs such as the Buridja First Nations Peoples Outreach Clinic from 2019 onward, The Hunter Foot Clinic from 2018 to 2022, and others.

Peterson's research specializes in running-related injury, particularly risk factors among recreational runners, alongside projects in physical activity promotion, paediatrics, chronic disease management, vascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, occupational therapy, and sports science. He is a member of CQUniversity's Musculoskeletal Health and Rehabilitation Research Group and Exercise and Sports Science Rehabilitation Research Cluster. His work has appeared in high-quality journals including Sports Medicine - Open, Journal of Sports Sciences, and Diabetic Medicine. Notable publications include 'Biomechanical and Musculoskeletal Measurements as Risk Factors for Running-Related Injury in Non-elite Runners: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies' (2022, achieving 95th percentile Altmetric score), 'Going their own way–male recreational runners and running-related injuries: A qualitative thematic analysis' (2022), and contributions to Cochrane reviews on toe-brachial index for peripheral arterial disease diagnosis (2024). Peterson has received the Faculty of Health Research Training Program PhD Scholarship from the University of Newcastle and the Best Lightning Presentation award at the Australian Podiatry Conference (2023). He serves on committees including the Australasian Council of Podiatry Deans, Australian Foot and Ankle Research Network, Australian Podiatry Association Regional Council, and the 2025 Australian Podiatry Conference committee, and has presented at the Australian Podiatry Conference (2017, 2019, 2023) and Sports Medicine Australia Conference (2021, 2022, 2023). Additionally, he engages in community outreach through local running festivals, expos, and services.