Joseph L. Mills

Joseph L. Mills, M.D., FACS is a Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and holds the John W. "Jack" Reid, M.D., '43 and Josephine L. Reid Endowed Professorship in Surgery. He serves as Medical Director of the Diabetic Foot and Wound Care Center and Save The Extremity Program (STEP) at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Mills is an internationally recognized authority specializing in diabetic foot amputation prevention and limb salvage. His research interests span Diabetic Foot Amputation Prevention, Limb salvage, Peripheral artery disease (PAD), Carotid disease and stroke, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Arteriovenous access, and Vascular Problems in Athletes. He has made significant contributions to vascular surgery literature, including co-editing the prestigious "Rutherford's Vascular Surgery" (7th, 8th and 9th editions) and serving as Co-Chief Editor of Vascular Surgery for UpToDate.

Analysis of Dr. Mills' recent publications reveals a strong focus on diabetic limb salvage, wound healing, and innovative surgical techniques. His work demonstrates consistent emphasis on practical clinical applications, risk stratification systems, and technological innovations in vascular surgery, particularly for diabetic patients. The WIfI classification system represents one of his most influential contributions to the field.

• Top Doctor in Vascular Surgery (Castle Connolly, 01/2013 - 12/2015)
• Best Doctors in America (01/2001 - 12/2015)
• Edward James Olmos Award for Advocacy in Amputation Prevention 2011
• Top Doctor: Vascular Surgery 2020-2025 (Houstonia Magazine)
• Lawrence B. Harkless Leadership in the Diabetic Foot Award (2024)
• Roger Pecoraro Award (American Diabetes Association)

Dr. Mills has served in numerous leadership roles including President of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), President of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, and President of the Western Vascular Society. As Chief of the BCM Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy from 2015-2025, he initiated the Integrated Vascular Surgery Training Program and founded the nationally recognized STEP Program. He has authored over 450 peer-reviewed journal articles with an h-index of 76 and served as principal investigator for over 40 clinical research trials.

He directs the Save The Extremity Program (STEP), a multidisciplinary program to treat patients with diabetic foot ulcers and prevent major limb amputations, which has gained national and international recognition for its comprehensive approach to diabetic limb salvage.