ALPS Announces Successful Conclusion of 26th DFCon in Anaheim

28. October 2026

Anaheim, CA | October 24, 2026 — The American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS) is proud to announce the conclusion of the 26th Global Interdisciplinary Diabetic Foot Conference (DFCon), the premier meeting focused on diabetic foot care and limb preservation in North America.

Held October 22–24 at the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort, DFCon 2026 brought clinicians, researchers, and industry together for three days of scientific sessions, case discussions, workshops, and interdisciplinary exchange.

This year’s program covered:

  • Diabetic foot ulcer prevention and treatment
  • Vascular and endovascular interventions
  • Artificial intelligence and digital tools in early diagnosis
  • Health equity and access to limb preservation care
  • New developments in the multidisciplinary Toe & Flow approach
  • Community-based prevention strategies.

After finalizing the conference program on Saturday with poster awards and DFCon’s iconic raffle quiz, ALPS Founding President David Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, commented on the success of this year’s meeting:

Frykberg EJO Award
DFCon 2026<br />

 

“I think DFCon has always been about bringing the right people into the room. Some of the most important advances don’t even begin behind a podium. They begin with a question across a table, a difficult case shared between colleagues, or two disciplines looking at the same problem differently. It is life-affirming to see those conversations happen year after year at our meeting.”

ALPS CEO Georgia Krehbiel, MBA, commented:

“What I particularly enjoyed this year was the level of interaction throughout the meeting. The workshops, discussions, and multidisciplinary conversations between sessions added another dimension to an excellent scientific program, as always. It could be interesting to build on that in the future, and I am already looking forward to next year’s edition, which will take place November 4–6, 2027 at the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort. Be sure to save the date, folks.”

Robert G. Frykberg Receives the 2026 Edward James Olmos Award

A highlight of DFCon is the presentation of the Edward James Olmos Award for Education and Advocacy in Amputation Prevention. The 2026 award was presented to Robert G. Frykberg, DPM, MPH, FFPM (Glasg). Dr. Frykberg is Podiatry Residency Director and Professor/Clinical in the Department of Orthopaedics at UT Health San Antonio and an Honorary Professor of Podiatric Medicine at the University of Galway.

He previously served as Chief of the Podiatry Section and Residency Director at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Medical Center. His work has focused on lower-extremity disorders, particularly diabetic foot ulcers, infections, Charcot foot, surgery, and wound care. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters and edited The High Risk Foot in Diabetes Mellitus and The Diabetic Charcot Foot.

Next Up is DFUpdate 2026 in San Antonio

ALPS’ next meeting, Diabetic Foot Update (DFUpdate), will take place December 4–6, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. This year’s program will focus on peripheral artery disease (PAD) and its role in diabetes-related limb loss. Sessions will cover emerging research, complex cases, and practical approaches to PAD management and limb preservation.

New this year are workshops on December 4 focused on developing and strengthening limb preservation programs, with practical strategies participants can take back to their institutions.

Abstracts may be submitted through November 20, 2026.

Submit your abstract and explore registration rates for DFUpdate  here. 

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