Detecting and Preventing Diabetic Foot Ailments “From the Ground Up”

Each year, an estimated 600,000 diabetic patients acquire foot ulcers, resulting in 80,000 amputations, according to the American Diabetes Association. To address some of the challenges involved in the detection and prevention of diabetic foot ailments, Kent State University brought corporate leadership and faculty researchers together in a Corporate Research Forum, “From the Ground Up,” which took place at the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine on Feb. 26.

Kent State researchers are currently studying a wide variety of issues in this area, including faculty from the College of Podiatric Medicine, College of Public Health, College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology, College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Education, Health and Human Services.  

“This multidisciplinary approach to healthcare is exactly what the U.S. needs,” says Paulita LaPlante, chief executive officer of Vasamed Inc., who spoke at the event.  “This forum was very forward-looking and timely for me.” Vasamed, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., develops, manufactures and sells hemodynamic diagnostic products.

Kent State researchers also heard presentations and discussed potential research collaborations with representatives from GOJO (Akron, Ohio), Incedo Orthopedics (Lehighton, Pa.), The Orthotic Group (Markham, Ontario) and Theravasc (Cleveland, Ohio).

“This forum went very well, and we’ve come away with quite a few new ideas,” says Vincent Hetherington, Ph.D., senior associate dean of the College of Podiatric Medicine. “It was a good fit to bring our researchers together to see these new technologies and discuss similar applications.”     

For more information about Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine, visit www.kent.edu/cpm.