Armstrong Delivers Virtual Keynote to Colombo, Sri Lanka

David G. Armstrong, Professor of Surgery and Director of the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA) at the University of Arizona delivered a “virtual” keynote speech to a packed house of physicians and surgeons in Colombo Sri Lanka. “In 2009, for the first time in the history of human kind, more people died of non-infectious diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer than from infectious disease”, noted Armstrong. “The fact is, we have to adjust to meet this– medically, surgically, politically– or we will face a demographic reckoning.” After noting that more than 80% of non-communicable disease deaths are occurring in the developing world, he devoted the next portion of his address to much good news about the state of play in care of diabetes and in limb salvage. “We now see that teams reduce amputations. When we come together around this problem in South Asia, East Africa or North America, good things happen. Good things are indeed happening.”