Tania Román held a baby’s small, fragile foot in her hands, a foot that nature had shaped capriciously, curled and rigid. It was an experience she’d had many times while working at the Hermano Miguel Foundation, MiracleFeet’s partner in Ecuador, based in Quito. With the medical students keenly observing, she administered the Ponseti method, placing the strips of plaster with precision, her hands confidently molding little casts into the correct position. The treatment of clubfoot, which once had seemed like a simple medical curiosity, had become her passion.  

Tania wasn’t always certain about her vocation. When she finished school, like many young people, she found herself at a crossroads. Her parents adamantly encouraged her to attend university. “When I finished [high] school, I didn’t want to immediately study more. I thought I’d give myself some time to think about what I would do,” Tania recalls with a smile as if remembering a youthful frivolity.  

It was her mother who suggested physical therapy. Tania wasn’t completely convinced, but she enrolled anyway and little by little the discipline captured her interest – especially during her third semester when she had the unexpected opportunity to accompany a sports specialist to cycling competitions. This was the point that solidified her interest and motivated her to investigate all the different aspects of physical therapy, from occupational risk prevention to aquatic rehabilitation. However, it was at the Hermano Miguel Foundation that she found her true calling. It was here that Tania learned the Ponseti method and began treating clubfoot—a practice that soon became her specialty. “I saw that it worked really well and that the children were 100% on their feet,” says Tania.  

But Tania didn’t stop at administering the Ponseti method—she decided to delve deeper, attending basic and advanced courses and perusing the guidance of Dr. Mancheno at the same foundation. This training afforded her the necessary skills and confidence to train others. Becoming a Ponseti instructor was a significant achievement. As an instructor, she’s increasing the foundation’s capacity to treat more children.  

Every little foot Tania corrected was a victory, a testament to her skill and dedication. “As I treat the children and see the results, it is incredible,” she explains. “Seeing their feet transform and how happy it makes their families makes me happy.” Watching her hands delicately and precisely mold plaster is akin to watching a sculptor, but instead of a statue her artistry yields a better future for her patients.  

Every time Tania sees a child take their first steps after treatment, her heart fills with pride and hope. “I don’t want any child to have a disability due to a condition that is treatable like clubfoot,” she reflects. For her, every child with a corrected foot has a future full of possibilities, free of the limitations that would otherwise hinder their entire life.  

Today, Tania treats children with clubfoot and educates the new generation of physiotherapists and doctors in the Ponseti method. “Now that I have the opportunity to work with students from the University, I give them a whole lesson on clubfoot so that they know what it is and so they know that there is a treatment.”  

Tania Román’s professional journey, which began with a capricious decision influenced by an intuitive mother, has come full circle. Now she is the guide, the expert who inspires and educates.

In the same facility where our story began, she again holds a small, fragile foot, feeling the same clarity and passion that shaped her expertise. As the children she treats complete their care, their time at the clinic is over, but their real journey is just beginning.  

It’s World Health Worker Week—a time to recognize and celebrate the dedicated healthcare professionals who make quality care possible for communities around the world.  

At MiracleFeet, we’re proud to support and train health workers like Tania, who are transforming children’s lives by providing life-changing clubfoot treatment. So far this year, we’ve trained over 800 providers in the Ponseti method, expanding access to care and helping more children walk, run, and thrive. 

Join us in honoring these incredible professionals who make a brighter future possible!