Celebration of the Life of
Ignacio V. Ponseti, M.D.
December 6, 2009

On Sunday December 6, 2009 there will be a celebration of the life, legacy and accomplishments of Ignacio Ponseti, M.D. at the Coralville Marriott from 3 to 5 PM.  Those wishing to express their sentiments about Dr. Ponseti and his impact on their lives or wishing to make a memorial contribution can do so here.

Condolences                             Contributions

Dr. Ponseti’ s legacy will continue to live on through the Ponseti Laboratory, dedicated to investigating the cause of orthopaedic diseases, and the Ponseti International Association, dedicated to improve the treatment of children born with clubfoot with a global collaborative initiative through education, clinical research, improved access to care and the eradication of neglected clubfoot.

Beloved orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Ponseti, passed away on Oct 18, 2009

Ignacio V. Ponseti MD passed away on October 18, 2009, with his wife Helena and his son at his bedside. Dr. Ponseti contributed so much to Orthopaedics and to improving the lives of patients around the world. He will be dearly missed by his colleagues and his patients. Those of us at the Ponseti International Association (PIA) will ensure that his work and his legacy continue. Memorial contributions may be made to Ponseti International Association through the UI Foundation PIA Contribution Page available here.

Ignacio Ponseti, MD, whose pioneering, non-surgical, treatment has benefited hundreds of thousands of children worldwide, died Sunday at age 95 following a sudden illness. Memorial services are still being planned. 

Dr. Ponseti joined the orthopedics faculty at The University of Iowa in 1944 following his residency—remaining here the next four decades treating patients, teaching, and conducting research. He retired as professor emeritus in 1984, but returned in 1986 to a consultative practice in orthopedics 

In the course of his career he developed the Ponseti method for treating clubfoot, involving the careful manipulation of muscles, joints and ligaments held in a series of casts and braces to reposition the foot back to normal. It became the "gold standard" for clubfoot treatment, after decades of positive follow-up results and numerous international peer-reviewed studies showing success rates as high as 98 percent.  

Over the past decade, through educational and advocacy efforts, the Ponseti method has become the mainstream treatment for clubfoot in North America and is increasingly used to help children with clubfoot from underdeveloped regions of the world. In August 2006, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed the Ponseti method. 

Let us follow his example and honor him by continuing to do excellent work every day in promoting the Ponseti method.

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