Dr. Sherene Sharath’s Research Brings Amputation Risks Closer to Home
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Aug 6, 2026
Research led by Downstate’s Sherene E. Sharath, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of Clinical and Health Services Research,
is helping healthcare providers better understand why patients with advanced vascular
disease continue to lose limbs and how earlier action may help prevent limb loss.
The study, published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, examined more than 2.7 million patients. More than 40 percent of amputations occurred among patients in the lowest income group, and nearly 80 percent were performed at hospitals serving moderate-to-high percentages of Medicaid patients. Black patients remained among those at greatest risk.
The findings are particularly relevant to Downstate, where many patients manage diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, and other conditions that can increase the risk of poor circulation and limb loss. They reinforce the importance of preventive care, early referrals, coordinated treatment, and well-resourced limb-preservation programs.
For all of us, the practical message is clear: persistent leg or foot pain, numbness, discoloration, coldness, or wounds that do not heal should be taken seriously. Early attention could help save a limb.
Dr. Sharath recently discussed the research and its implications in the TCTMD article, “Rising Tide of Amputations Spreads Burden Across More Hospitals.”
Her research connects national trends to the everyday realities our patients face and helps inform practical solutions to prevent limb loss and improve their care.