By Karen Villarreal

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – APRIL 30, 2026 – Just a few years after opening its doors, the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM) was recognized on the international stage at the 15^th International Surgical Conference of the Barts and London Surgical Society.

Held under the theme, “Scalpels of Tomorrow,” the conference honored Dr. Javier La Fontaine, SOPM dean, and Dr. Hooman Mir, SOPM assistant professor of medicine, with awards.

The Barts and London Surgical Society (BLSS) is the leading student-led surgical education society at Barts. It organizes surgical and clinical workshops and conferences with world-renowned experts. Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, commonly known as Barts, is the medical and dental school of Queen Mary University of London.

In February, BLSS hosted its 2026 conference on the campus of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, bringing together surgeons, educators and trainees from around the globe to focus on advances in surgical education and limb preservation.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER OF THE YEAR

La Fontaine received the 2026 BLSS Keynote Speaker of the Year Award. The honor recognized his leadership in podiatric medical education, clinical research and mentorship, efforts that have helped shape generations of foot and ankle specialists.

In his keynote address, “Beyond the Scalpel: Charting the Course from Student to Dean,” La Fontaine highlighted contemporary approaches to complex limb salvage, interdisciplinary care models and the growing role of academic podiatry in major teaching centers worldwide.

“It is an honor to be chosen to speak to this group of ambitious students, clinical colleagues and educators,” said La Fontaine. His expertise was also recognized in 2025 by a study published in the journal Medicine, where he ranked as the number five contributor worldwide on osteomyelitis (bone infection), with 23 studies to his name to date.

“Our school may be newly established, but we’re already being called to the global stage to share our story,” La Fontaine added.

PHYSICIAN PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR

Mir, a Fellow of the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA), received the 2026 BLSS Physician Professor of the Year Award for the second consecutive year (2025 and 2026). The award recognizes his excellence in teaching, curriculum innovation and his integration of advanced surgical anatomy and wound care into podiatric medical education.

During his digital toe amputation session, Mir used realistic pig trotter (foot) models to demonstrate amputation techniques, complex reconstruction and diabetic limb preservation.

“This work has positioned UTRGV SOPM students at the forefront of modern podiatric training,” Mir said.

He emphasized that understanding when and how to perform a digital toe amputation is crucial for future clinicians, regardless of where they practice.

• Ninety-five percent of lower-limb amputations in the UK begin with a diabetic foot ulcer or one caused by peripheral arterial disease.
• In South Texas, the rate of diabetes-related lower-limb amputations surpasses the state average of five per 10,000 hospital discharges.

OLD SCHOOL MEETS NEW SCHOOL

Mir said the recognition was especially meaningful because it came from the oldest hospital in England, which has provided more than 900 years of continuous care. Founded in 1123, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital significantly predates the first U.S. hospital – Bellevue Hospital in New York City – which was founded in 1736.

UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, founded in 2022, is the newest school of podiatric medicine in the United States, the first in Texas and one of only 10 in the country. The contrast highlights how quickly the young program is establishing itself alongside some of the world’s most historic medical institutions.

“Our presence at Barts underscores UTRGV SOPM’s growing global footprint and its commitment to pairing world-class education in the Rio Grande Valley with international collaboration and recognition,” Mir said.

UTRGV SOPM will graduate the first Doctor of Podiatric Medicine class in Texas on Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Brownsville.