FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Anaheim, CA | October 25, 2025 — The American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS) proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 25th anniversary edition of the Diabetic Foot Conference (DFCon), the premier diabetic foot conference in North America.
Each year at DFCon, ALPS gathers influential speakers and delivers outstanding scientific content related to limb preservation and diabetic feet. This three-day conference allows the best in their field to come together, learn from each other and delve into the most recent technological advancements.
Held October 23–25 at the JW Marriott in Anaheim, California, the 2025 edition of DFCon welcomed 470 attendees from 27 countries making it the most globally connected DFCon to date.
ALPS Founding President, Dr. David Armstrong, shares:
“It’s been truly inspiring to witness the energy and collaboration at DFCon2025. Each year, this community grows stronger—uniting science, compassion, and innovation in service of one shared goal: ending preventable amputation. What happens here doesn’t stay here—it spreads, shaping care teams and transforming lives around the world.
As we close this year’s meeting, I’m more confident than ever that together, we are not just preserving limbs—we’re preserving futures.”
CEO of ALPS, Georgia Krehbiel, MBA, shares:
“This milestone year for DFCon reflects how far we’ve come and how much more we can achieve together. The growth in global participation, engagement, and innovation underscores that limb preservation is not just a field of study, or a conference, it’s a shared mission and movement to drive progress and eliminate preventable amputations. We look forward to building on this momentum in future ALPS initiatives.”
DFCon 2025 offered three days of lectures, discussions, and case-based sessions across multiple disciplines, including podiatry, vascular surgery, wound care, endocrinology, and nursing.
Topics included:
- Diabetic foot ulcer prevention and treatment
- Vascular and endovascular interventions
- Artificial intelligence and digital tools in early diagnosis
- Health equity and care access in limb preservation
- Newest update in the multidisciplinary Toe & Flow approach
- Community-based prevention strategies
Award for Limb Preservation
A centerpiece of DFCon each year is the presentation of the Edward James Olmos Award for Advocacy in Amputation Prevention. The award is named in honor of the celebrated actor and director Edward James Olmos, who has been active in raising awareness of the ravages of diabetes and the importance of limb preservation in the Latino community. This year’s conference recognized Professor José Luis Lázaro Martínez as the 2025 recipient.
A Full Professor at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Director of its Diabetic Foot Unit, Professor Lázaro-Martínez is a global leader in diabetic foot care. He also chairs the Diabetic Foot Committee of the European Wound Management Association and serves as Honorary President of D-Foot International.
With more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and over 400 international lectures, his work has shaped interdisciplinary care models that improve outcomes and reduce amputations.
“I am truly honored to receive this award, which I share with all colleagues and institutions working to advance diabetic foot care worldwide. This recognition strengthens my commitment to research and innovation to prevent avoidable amputations and improve the lives of people living with diabetes,” shares Professor Lázaro-Martínez.
Next up is DFUpdate in San Antonio
Looking ahead, the next conference hosted by ALPS will be the Diabetic Foot Update 2025 in San Antonio. Revived after a 23-year legacy under the visionary leadership of Professor Lawrence B. Harkless, DFUpdate will be back, honoring the spirit of the original while forging a bold new path focused on interdisciplinary innovation and transformative care.
Dr. Lee C. Rogers, Co-Chair of DFUpdate 2025 and Professor and Chief of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at UT Health San Antonio, nationally recognized leader in diabetic foot care, Charcot neuroarthropathy, and interdisciplinary limb preservation, shares:
“Our scientific program is designed to challenge clinical assumptions, elevate the dialogue, and connect specialties across the continuum of care. We are shaping the future of limb preservation, one conversation and one collaboration at a time.”
Dr. Rogers is joined by Dr. Lawrence Lavery, co-chair, and Dr. Robert Frykberg, honorary chair—both long-standing leaders in diabetic foot care and research. DFUpdate 2025 centers its program around the Charcot foot, one of the most complex and often under-recognized complications of diabetes. Registration for DFUpdate 2025 is open.
Save the date for DFCon 2026
ALPS is furthermore happy to announce DFCon 2026 to take place October 22-24, 2026 in Anaheim. Become a member of ALPS and sign up to the ALPS Newsletter to stay up to date on the upcoming conferences and events.