Steps2Walk performs surgical care of crippling foot and ankle deformities in underserved regions of the world, whilst educating orthopedic surgeons in various treatment alternatives that ultimately translates into helping thousands of people worldwide. The expanded goal of Steps2Walk is to specifically focus on humanitarian foot and ankle care in countries where the need is the greatest, where res
ources are few. While we are able to provide surgical care to an individual, improving his/her ability to stand and walk and enabling them to become an independent contributing member of society, we believe that the real and sustaining solution is to teach and train in-country surgeons and thereby multiply orthopedic care worldwide. Our vision is a world where orthopedic foot and ankle care is available to everyone in every region of the world. We treat crippling deformities that limit our patients from leading a productive life in their communities and work force. For most of our patients, these ailments have persisted through childhood and into adulthood and limit their productivity, participation in household and community activities, and lead to profound and permanent psychological impairment. Many of these deformities are very complex and even with modern facilities, our humanitarian programs are faced with difficult decisions and little equipment with which to work. To give our patients the best possible outcome, we spend a good deal of time advance planning in order to implement treatment in the most sustainable way. While this is always a challenge, it is incredibly rewarding. Most of our patients have not walked with the foot flat on the ground for years, some for decades and the change in their lives is heart wrenching to see during follow up visits.
