Liberty hosts Johns Hopkins vascular surgeon for lecture on digital health aids for diabetic patients

Liberty University’s School of Health Sciences welcomed back Dr. Caitlin Hicks, associate professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and vice chair of research at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, for a Grand Rounds Lecture last week that showcased the transformative potential of digital health technologies. Her presentation, “Wearable Technology in the Digital Age: Applications to Diabetic Foot Ulcer Care,” offered an inspiring look at how innovation can redefine patient care and improve outcomes for millions living with diabetes.

Diabetes affects more than 38 million Americans, and the lifetime risk of developing a diabetic foot ulcer, ranges from 25 to 34 percent. Hicks shared compelling insights into her team’s pioneering work on remote wound monitoring and wearable devices designed to prevent and manage diabetic foot ulcers — a condition that carries a significant risk of infection and amputation. Through smartphone applications and AI-driven image analysis, patients can capture wound images at home, enabling clinicians to monitor healing progress and detect complications early.

Hicks said the work has demonstrated remarkable promise, reducing clinic visits by up to 50 percent while maintaining quality outcomes. She also introduced emerging technologies such as smart socks and insoles that track foot pressure, gait, and temperature, transmitting data for real-time analysis. These innovations allow clinicians to predict ulcer formation before symptoms appear, shifting care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

By integrating wearable technology and telemedicine into clinical practice, healthcare providers can reduce disparities, lower costs, and improve outcomes—goals that align with Liberty’s vision for leadership in health sciences education and research.

The Grand Rounds lecture was a continuation of Liberty’s partnership with Johns Hopkins University — a collaboration that extends beyond lectures to hands-on research and policy engagement. Currently, three Liberty Master of Public Health students are working under the direction of Hicks and several of her colleagues at Johns Hopkins through the Johns Hopkins Fellowship, contributing to projects that advance limb preservation and digital health solutions. Hicks will continue to give lectures on Liberty’s campus each semester through this partnership. These opportunities exemplify Liberty’s commitment to providing students with access to world-class research environments, praxtical learning experiences, and mentorship from leading experts in the field.

“Our mission at Liberty University is to prepare health professionals who embrace innovation and compassion in equal measure,” said Dr. Heidi DiFrancesca, dean of the School of Health Sciences. “Dr. Hicks’ work exemplifies how technology can bridge gaps in care and empower patients, and we are honored to bring these conversations to our campus to help broaden our students’ exposure to the rapidly evolving and vast landscape of health and medicine as part of our ongoing partnership with Johns Hopkins.”