Barry University podiatric physicians, residents and alumni recently traveled to Merida, Mexico to offer life-altering medical treatment to poor children as part of BU’s Yucatan Project. More than 5,000 crippled children in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico have received treatment as a result of the project. In addition, more than 75 physicians and 50 residents have volunteered over 20,000 hours to the project, which marked its 10th year of operation at a celebration in Merida, Mexico Nov.18.

The Yucatan Project is the brainchild of Dr. Charles Southerland, a podiatric surgeon at Barry’s School of Graduate Medical Sciences.

Pictured are Dr. Charles Southerland, director of the Yucatan Crippled Children’s Project, with Dr. Pedro Abrantes and Dr. Nelson Gonzalez, graduates of BU’s School of Podiatric Medicine, who treated a 5-year-old girl with cerebral palsy Jan. 23, 2004, in Progreso, Mexico. Three months after surgery she was able to put both of her heels flat on the floor for the first time in her life.