Professor Boulton graduated (with honours) from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Medical School. He was subsequently a research fellow under Professor JD Ward in Sheffield, and Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Miami prior to accepting an appointment at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Professor Boulton has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, mainly on diabetic neuropathy and foot complications. He was the principal invited lecturer at the launch of the American Diabetes Association's Foot Care Council. Among his many awards, his contribution to worldwide care of the diabetic foot was honored by receiving the American Diabetes Association's Roger Pecoraro Lectureship, the EASD Camillo Golgi prize and was the first recipient of the international award on diabetic foot research.

Professor Boulton, together with Dr Henry Connor, was the founding Chairman of the Malvern diabetic foot meetings which have been held every two years since 1986. At that time there were no regular meetings that focused on diabetic foot problems, and the Malvern foot conferences are now internationally known. He was also the founding chair of the Diabetic Foot Study Group, and was previously Chairman of Postgraduate Education and then program chair, for the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). He is a former editor of Diabetic Medicine, and is currently an associate editor of Diabetes Care. He was chair of the ADA Foot Care Interest Group from 2005-2007.