Almelo, Netherlands – June 2025 — In a powerful and thought-provoking keynote at Congres Diabetische Voet 2025, Prof. David G. Armstrong—Founding President of the American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS) and Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Neurological Surgery at USC—delivered the lecture named in honor of the symposium’s founder, Prof. Sjef van Baal.
Armstrong’s plenary, titled “Limb Preservation: Looking Back to Look Forward”, traced the history of wound healing through the lens of scientific and clinical innovation. He emphasized the urgent need for new and novel ways to “measure what we manage”—calling attention to the role of remote monitoring, skin temperature assessment, and risk-based patient communication in driving down preventable amputations.
“We’re living in an era where we can finally make invisible warning signs visible—before wounds worsen and before patients lose limbs,” said Prof. Armstrong. “To stand at this intersection of history, technology, and healing— here with so many of Sjef van Baal’s professional progeny—is an extraordinary honor.”
Prof. van Baal, who introduced Armstrong, noted with warmth and admiration:
“My favorite award that David has won—and he has won many—is ‘Father of the Year.’ That should tell you something about him.”
The meeting also featured the HOMELAND Workshop, where Armstrong collaborated with longtime colleagues Prof. Dr. Sicco Bus and Dr. Jaap van Netten. The trio shared the latest advances in foot temperature monitoring—part of the Academic Workplace HOMELAND initiative to embed preventive technology across Dutch healthcare systems. The format was that of a boxing match and was particularly popular for the full house in attendance.
This year’s congress reaffirmed the importance of integrating data-driven strategies with human-centered care. As global experts gathered in Almelo, the message was clear: Together, we can and must #ActAgainstAmputation.
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