Home > Media Relations > Mercy News Archive

Media Relations: Mercy News Archive

Foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Clifford Jeng examines a patient at the Helping Up Mission at a past 'Heart to Soles' event

Mercy's Institute For Foot And Ankle Reconstruction To Participate In National Effort To Help Homeless

Our Hearts to Your Soles Provides Free Foot Screenings, Footwear to Residents of Helping Up Mission in Baltimore City

BALTIMORE, MD – Mercy Medical Center and the nationally renowned Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy will take part in a national effort to help relieve the foot problems experienced by area homeless.

“Our Hearts to Your Soles,” founded by Pittsburgh teen Matt Conti in 2005, is teaming up with Mercy board-certified surgeons Dr. Clifford Jeng, Dr. Rebecca Cerrato, and Dr. John T. Campbell, as well as medical fellows from the Institute, to provide free foot screenings and footwear to residents of the Helping Up Mission, located at 1029 East Baltimore Street, Tuesday, Nov. 23rd, 1-3 p.m.. Similar events will take place in cities across the U.S.

“With people more health conscious these days, we're walking more, running, hiking--always on our feet. We take healthy feet for granted. But for those who can't afford proper footwear or don't have access to good medical care for their feet, it's a different story. This program helps by providing shoes and foot screenings and by raising awareness, encouraging people to help those less fortunate,” Dr. Jeng said.

“Myself and my colleagues at Mercy’s Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction have been providing foot screenings to those at the Helping Up Mission for several years now. Taking part in the 'Hearts to Soles' program is very gratifying, and we are pleased to take part again in 2010,” Dr. Campbell said.

As a college freshman, Matthew Conti witnessed firsthand the poor health of homeless people in his own community. Along with his father, Dr. Stephen Conti, an orthopedic surgeon at Pittsburgh's Allegheny Hospital, he has volunteered to serve Pittsburgh’s homeless in shelters and missions on several occasions.

The experience inspired Matt, his sister Laura and their father to create a unique non-profit organization called "Our Hearts to Your Soles" in 2005.

“It’s great to part of this program that’s helping people across the country receive care they might not have otherwise,” Dr. Cerrato said. “We see all sorts of foot issues and ailments and are happy to provide the treatment these individuals need.”

Drs. Jeng, Cerrato and Campbell see patients in The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy under the direction of world renowned foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Mark Myerson.

For more information about Our Hearts to Your Soles, visit www.heartstosoles.com. To learn more about the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy, go to www.mdmercy.com or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy.