Laura Finucane is a Consultant Physiotherapist specialising in spinal conditions in the UK. She is the education and training lead for advanced practitioners and physiotherapists ensuring clinicians maintain their competency and expertise to deliver the service for SMSKP. She has been involved in a number of national projects looking to standardize training and education for advanced roles. Laura’s special interest is in serious pathologies of the spine and she has presented nationally and internationally on this subject. She has written a number of papers related to serious pathology and teaches at a postgraduate level. She is the Vice President of IFOMPT.

Chris Mercer is a Consultant Physiotherapist working in spinal and MSK services in the NHS. He has an interest in advanced practice roles and competencies, as well as a clinical interest in serious spinal pathology. He has taught and lectured on this topic together with Laura and separately, nationally and internationally, and has published in this field. 
 He is currently working with Laura on an international research project that is developing a clinical reasoning framework for clinicians to help in the early identification of serious spinal pathologies. He has been recognised by the physiotherapy profession, being awarded Fellowships of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.