A forthcoming webinar is to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can help treat and manage diabetic foot ulcers. Hosted by SpectralMD, the online event will discuss how developing technologies involving AI can improve healing prediction and have a positive impact on patient outcomes.

In addition, it will highlight how AI can optimise the clinical management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). 

Professor Paul Chadwick, Executive Vice President of SpectralMD, is chairing the online session. He will be joined by Andrew Sharpe, Advanced Podiatrist at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, and Mark Portou, Vascular Consultant at the Royal Free Hospital in London, who are both speaking during the webinar.

During the virtual event, delegates will understand the limitations of current DFU assessments and predictive models and hear discussions on how technology is developing to improve predictive accuracy.

About the chair

Prof Paul Chadwick Executive Vice President UK/EMEA, Spectral MD/AI, Visiting Professor Birmingham City University

Paul qualified in 1990 and gained an MSc (by research) in 2000. He completed a PhD in 2012 looking at the social

construction of neuropathic pain. He is currently the EVP of Spectral MD/AI leading the International operation. Most recently, he was Interim Chief Executive at the Royal College of Podiatry and prior to that he was the College’s National Clinical Director where he led the development and implementation of the Clinical Leadership and Education agenda of the Organisation’s five-year strategic plan.

Before starting at the College, He was a consultant podiatrist, he led a team of clinical specialists and developed an integrated system wide approach to foot care. He maintains a clinical role as an honorary consultant podiatrist. He has presented nationally and internationally and published widely in many peer reviewed journals. Previously Paul was the Chair of Foot in Diabetes U.K. He is on the editorial board of a range of journals and has been appointed associate editor of the Diabetic Foot Journal. He has a Fellowship from the Royal College of Podiatry and was awarded the meritorious award in 2014 for services to the profession. He also received a Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Paul was appointed a Visiting Professor of Tissue Viability at Birmingham City University in 2018. In his time at The College, he has led many projects including, Workforce and Educational reform, HCPC annotation of podiatric surgery in England, the development of the Advanced Clinical Practice Framework in lower limb viability and the Diabetes Commissioning Tool Kit. He has also led the implementation of a new learning management system and created a suite of continuing professional development modules for the profession.

About the speakers

Mark Portou

Mark is a Consultant Vascular Surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital, London and north-central London (NCL) lead for diabetic foot, peripheral artery and amputation services. He has a particular clinical and research interest in the management of diabetic foot disease and critical limb ischaemia. He works across the Royal Free trust as an integral part of a multidisciplinary diabetic foot team.

The majority of his specialist practice is in endovascular surgery and conservative wound management techniques. He is committed to service improvement in the provision of diabetic foot care, and in improving functional outcomes after major amputation. He has published and presented internationally on wound healing, particularly in diabetes.

Andrew Sharpe

Andrew has clinical experience in lower limb, in particular the foot, wound care in both acute and community settings, working as part of the exemplar MDT service in Salford. As well as working in NHS clinical practice, Andrew has worked as a University Lecturer and is involved in research in practice as an ARC-GM NIHR pre-doctoral fellow. As a key opinion leader he is involved in producing guidelines locally and for regional networks, writing articles for peer reviewed journals, presenting at national and international conferences, attending international expert panel seminars and working with industry.