WesternU College of Podiatric Medicine students present at DFCon25
Story by Dr. Jonathan Labovitz
Western University of Health Sciences College of Podiatric Medicine students Jessy Singh and Elizabeth Lee presented research posters and represented CPM at DFCon25, one of the most respected international diabetic foot conferences worldwide.
DFCon25 – Diabetic Foot Conference, organized by the American Limb Preservation Society, was held Oct. 23-25, 2025, in Anaheim, California.
The students received guidance on their two research projects by CPM Dean Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS, CHCQM, and CPM Professor Fanglong Dong, PhD. Both poster presentations highlighted critical intersections between medical and social determinants of health.
The first study, Predictors of Postoperative Complications in Foot and Ankle Surgery, demonstrates that complication risk in diabetic foot and ankle surgery is influenced by both procedural factors and socioeconomic factors, which means prevention strategies should be tailored not just to the type of surgery, but also to specific patient populations at higher risk.
The second study, Postoperative Mortality Risks in Diabetic Foot and Ankle Surgery, emphasizes how clinical factors such as infection risk and comorbidities interact with behavioral determinants such as substance abuse to shape surgical outcomes in diabetics. The results emphasize the importance of early intervention in patients with alcohol abuse to reduce postoperative mortality risk. Presenting these research projects at DFCon emphasized the relevance of this research to global efforts aimed at reducing limb loss and improving perioperative care in diabetic populations.
In addition, Singh and Lee were able to learn from lectures presented by world-renowned experts working together to improve limb preservation and the overall care of the diabetic foot. One of the most notable moments at this conference was networking with the Director of the American Limb Preservation Society, Dr. David Armstrong, and learning about his contributions to the podiatric field. Walking away from this conference, both students were able to learn about wound care treatments, AI medical integration, and the future of limb preservation. They also had the opportunity to meet WesternU CPM alumna Kathryn Bosia, DPM ’14, an assistant professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine in the orthopedics department.
Singh and Lee hope to advance podiatric health care by publishing their research in a peer-review journal and expanding upon this research. They are both grateful for the WesternU Summer Research Program and encourage other students to participate in it.
