Volume 27 Number 2

“Det här är inta bare mit job. Det er mit sät at vara, att leva. [This is not only my job. It is my way of being, my way of living.]”

Jan Apelqvist

Obituary

Jan Apelqvist was born in Norrland (Sweden) on January 20, 1954. He graduated in Medicine in 1979 at the University of Umea and specialised in Internal Medicine in 1985 at the University of Lund, where he got also his PhD in 1990, defending a thesis of the prognostic factors for diabetic foot. In 1995 got an academic position as Associate Professor in the Division of Clinical Science at the same University. Since 2000 he held the position of Associate Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University Hospital of Malmo, where he established and directed the first Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Centre in Sweden. In 2003 he was appointed Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University Hospital of Malmo. He published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals, chapters in books and consensus documents, focusing not only on the clinical aspects of diabetic foot, but also on social, economic and organisational issues related to the pathology.

He was one of the founders of the International Working Group on Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) and member of the writing group of all the editions of the international guidelines produced by the Group since their first release in 1999.

He was one of the authors and promoters of the EURODIALE Study, and was responsible for the socio-economic analysis of the data gathered by the study.

He served as council member of EWMA 2008–2015, and as President from 2011 to2013. He received, among many others, the Roger Pecoraro Scientific Award of the American Diabetes association in 1998, the Diabetic Foot Award in 1999, the Edward James Olmos Award for advocacy in amputation prevention in 2012, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from DFSG in 2016. He died in Malmo on June 22, 2026. He leaves his beloved wife, Laila.

It is not easy for me writing these lines to remember and commemorate Jan Apelqivst, because my personal experiences with him overlap with the professional dimension of one of the greater—probably the greatest—clinical and scientific figures in diabetic foot and wound healing of my generation.

From this point of view, not only the number of papers and studies he produced, but also the quality and diversity of them, determine the importance of his work and of his vision; some of his papers are among the most cited in the field, and the evidence that he produced over the years, much ahead of its time, was an inspiration for many others who follow in his steps.

His extensive medical culture, his ability to concentrate and work relentlessly for hours, together with his quasi-superhuman memory, gained him, among those who had the fortune of collaborating with him on many projects, a nickname that he wore like a medal: “the Bible”.

Whenever controversies arose in working groups that could not be solved with lengthy discussions, the final resource was always the same: Let’s consult “the Bible”.

But his high stature was not merely based on his academic profile; this was only one side of his multi-faceted character. The others were having a vision that contributed to re-defining diabetic foot as a multidimensional pathology, and having immense passion that he put into his profession, which he interpreted as a vocation, rather than a job.

The vision about multidimensional pathology, came most likely from our common Internal Medicine specialty background, and shaped our research and drove the formulation of the Diabetic Foot Syndrome definition.

His passion for research and clinical work as a meaning of life would inspire and motivate generations of specialists around the world, making him an iconic point of referral in diabetic foot.

Many would follow his example, setting up multidisciplinary diabetic foot clinics and centres, as he did in Malmo, since the late nineties—the first in Scandinavian countries—providing adequate care to thousands of patients for years.

This clinical activity, central to his interpretation of his work, put him in contact with multidisciplinarity and with the need to open diabetic foot to the contributions of other medical professions and specialties. His involvement in EWMA, at first as a council member, and then as President, was the natural consequence of his belief that only a multi-professional strategy could make the difference for diabetic foot  patients. Under his leadership EWMA not only “opened” to diabetic foot , but also gained from his guidance methodological solidity, getting scientific recognition and credibility among stakeholders.

Many who had the chance of serving in EMWA as officers or who were members during the presidency of Jan Apelqvist,  hold a warm memory of him, not only related to his role, but also to his personal and peculiar charm, made of understatement, witty humour and empathy.

These were the signatures of Jan’s character; behind an apparently imperturbable Nordic aplomb, the Man was emotional and sensitive, interested in all the aspects of life and intensively participating in friendships and social relationships, sharing opinions, feelings and emotions, good and bad.

I have vivid memories of many evenings during congresses, meetings, or even only friendly reunions, sharing a warm conversation and a bottle of red wine, which was an important part of the pleasure of being together with Jan, who appreciated good company, good food and good wine.

The aspect of Jan’s personality that I admired the most, and that made of him my personal hero, was his bravery.

Born with a spine congenital defect in the north of Sweden in a rural family, he succeeded in constructing a rich and full life, building a family with his beloved wife, Laila. Being confined in a wheelchair was never an obstacle to his will to reach his goals.

Travelling across the globe, using all the possible transportation vehicles, overcoming defying situations that would defeat most of us, surviving life-threatening crises and coming back more alive than ever, all this with a serene attitude, always positive toward life, is something that he and he only has been able to do within my lifetime experience.

I personally already miss Jan very much; the idea that there will be no more occasion to meet, to talk, or only mail each other—we used to call each other “Bro”, like if we were kids—makes me feel bad.

The only way that I  can imagine to follow to process this grief is to think of the legacy that Jan Apelqvist left to us all, both as a professional and as a human being, and to follow his teaching and example, bringing forward values and actions the way he’d always wanted to do.

Requiescat In Pace

Pisa, June 26, 2026

Author(s)

Alberto Piaggesi MD
Past President of EWMA