Ignacio Ponseti, MD,  is a world renown expert in the treatment of clubfoot, a birth defect affecting millions of children throughout the world. And he works right here in Iowa City. The 93-year-old physician has had a remarkable life and his wife, Helena Percas-Ponseti, has written a book about him:

I don't know many wives who would write a book about their husbands, why/how did you decide to write a book about Ignacio Ponseti?

Well, in the last 10 years, my growing admiration for Ignacio. He had retired and was asked to come back to address doctors from around the world who treat clubfeet damaged by wrong manipulations, inspired me to write his biography.

This is probably in the book, but how did the two of you meet?

Briefly, we met by being students of a professor of mathematics—right here in Iowa City.

What are some of the other highlights of his life that you chronicle in the book?

Well, his fascination of and by nature, humans and all of their forms.

From your perspective, what has been the impact on children and their families of his work to develop a non-surgical treatment for clubfoot?

He developed his non-surgical treatment of clubfeet more than half a century ago. It has been in the last 10 years that the impact of families with clubfoot children he corrected and support groups on the internet that have been instrumental in stopping the often devastating operations. These families have directed other parents towards doctors in the states and abroad who have learned Ignacio's manipulative technique and plaster cast application.

And that is not just in the United States, correct? What other countries does he/has he traveled to help children?

The countries include: Spain, France, Italy, England, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala.

He spends a great deal of time with his work, but I'm sure the book also gives a glimpse of some of his other interests – what are some of those?

They include art and history, the great composers of all times, and classical music. Since we met, also folk music—my fascination. Painting is another that fascinates him. His drawing ability is second to none. As for painting, he gave it up because, he told me, he could not waste his time doing something mediocre. But I am more of a different opinion. The only unfinished painting of his is superb. 

As you were writing the book, did you let him read it? Or did he have to wait to read a full first draft?

No, he didn't read it. He had to wait until I got the first draft.

We should talk about your book signing at Barnes and Noble in the Coral Ridge Mall. Please tell the audience more about that.

It's going to be on April 17, Thursday, at 7 p.m. It will be followed by an informal reception. I don't want any royalties. The money from the sale of the book will go toward inviting first-rate scientists, biologists, and chemists to work in the laboratory to learn how to prevent clubfeet from forming in the womb. When the fetus begins to kick is the time when it is visible with the X-rays. This is Ignacio's dream and of course, it's mine too.

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Ignacio Ponseti, MD

Treatment of Clubfoot