I begin this statement with sincere gratitude for the trust placed in me, and for the privilege of leading an organization whose mission aligns so closely with values I have upheld throughout my clinical and academic journey. I step into the role of President not with certainty of all answers, but with clarity of purpose, vision for progress, and respect for the foundations we have built.
First and foremost, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank my predecessor, Prof. Zulfiqarali G. Abbas, whose leadership has been instrumental in expanding our network and deepening our impact. Under his guidance, D-Foot championed global cost studies, advanced training programs like TtFHCP, scaled the Fast Track Pathway, and brought the diabetic foot into high-level discussions in policy, education, and public health. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the outgoing broad who served with passion and utmost dedication.
Likewise, I extend my warm welcome to the incoming board: president-elect Dr. Salma Khuraibet, immediate past president Prof. Zufiqarali G. Abbas, vice-president finance Mr. Willem van Dyck and vice presidents: Ms. Johlene Sanders, Dr. Waheed Mohammed, Dr. Luinio Tongson, and Prof. Fran Games.
For those who may be newly joining our community, D-Foot International is a global, non-profit association dedicated to the prevention of diabetes-related foot complications and lower-limb amputations. Registered in Belgium and active across seven global regions namely: Africa, MENA (Middle-East and North Africa), SACA (South & Central America), NAC (North American and Caribbean), Europe, SEA (South East Asia), and WP (Western Pacific) Regions.
I begin this statement with sincere gratitude for the trust placed in me, and for the privilege of leading an organization whose mission aligns so closely with values I have upheld throughout my clinical and academic journey. I step into the role of President not with certainty of all answers, but with clarity of purpose, vision for progress, and respect for the foundations we have built.
First and foremost, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank my predecessor, Prof. Zulfiqarali G. Abbas, whose leadership has been instrumental in expanding our network and deepening our impact. Under his guidance, D-Foot championed global cost studies, advanced training programs like TtFHCP, scaled the Fast Track Pathway, and brought the diabetic foot into high-level discussions in policy, education, and public health. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the outgoing broad who served with passion and utmost dedication.
Likewise, I extend my warm welcome to the incoming board: president-elect Dr. Salma Khuraibet, immediate past president Prof. Zufiqarali G. Abbas, vice-president finance Mr. Willem van Dyck and vice presidents: Ms. Johlene Sanders, Dr. Waheed Mohammed, Dr. Luinio Tongson, and Prof. Fran Games.
For those who may be newly joining our community, D-Foot International is a global, non-profit association dedicated to the prevention of diabetes-related foot complications and lower-limb amputations. Registered in Belgium and active across seven global regions namely: Africa, MENA (Middle-East and North Africa), SACA (South & Central America), NAC (North American and Caribbean), Europe, SEA (South East Asia), and WP (Western Pacific) Regions.
D-Foot works to bridge the gap between science, policy, and frontline care. We do this through training, advocacy, implementation, and research; uniting all healthcare professionals to multidisciplinary foot care worldwide. Our aim is simple but powerful: to ensure that no one loses a limb because of where they live, or what they lack.
Diabetes Related Foot Complications (DRFCs) are not just a clinical condition: they are powerful indicators of how health systems can evolve to do better. DRFCs challenges us to build faster, more responsive referral pathways, to strengthen integration between disciplines, and to prioritize early intervention as a standard of care. I have seen, across hospitals and communities, how small delays in diagnosis or access can lead to life-altering consequences. But I have also seen how structured protocols, trained teams, and timely decisions can change outcomes entirely. Our role at D-Foot is to help bring those solutions where they are needed most, and to ensure they are sustained, scaled, and owned locally.
For years, D-Foot has brought people together: clinicians, nurses, policymakers. But convening is no longer enough. The future requires us to go further. We must become drivers of systems, not just developers of tools. We must embed our knowledge into national health strategies, local clinical routines, and the daily practices of those caring for the most vulnerable. We must ensure that Fast Track Pathways and clinical guidelines are not just shared—but implemented, funded, and owned by the very communities we serve.
We must expand what we mean by multidisciplinary care. This is not the work of one cadre alone. Every healthcare contributor matters. And among them, the patient must stand as a central figure not merely as a recipient of care, but as an empowered partner. Our models must reflect that inclusion.
Lastly, we must build and support leadership at every level. Our country representatives, regional chairs, and advisors are more than appointees but are catalysts for change bringing in valuable voices and will be a key part of our path forward. Throughout my career in wound care, I have held two convictions close: that excellence must be inclusive, and that science must serve people. I bring these same convictions into this presidency. I do not believe that we need to reinvent who we are—but I do believe that we are ready to evolve into what this moment demands of us.
To my board members, country representatives, and D-Foot family – your work sustains our mission, and I am here to serve the mission with you. DRFCs is preventable and prevention is possible.
Kind regards
Dato. Prof. Dr. Harikrishna KR Nair
President (2025 – 2027).
