"Our Hearts to Your Soles" Event Provides Free Medical Screenings and Shoes
CHICAGO — Dr. Simon Lee and Dr. Johnny Lin, foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeons at Rush University Medical Center, provided free medical foot screenings to Chicago-area homeless men and women at the Franciscan House of Mary & Joseph on November 23.
From left to right: Dr. Lin, Lauren Simpson PA-C, and Dr. Lee.
These medical screenings were a part of the "Our Hearts to Your Soles" program sponsored by Soles4Souls Inc., an international shoe charity. The men and women also received free shoes donated by Red Wing Shoe Company. Numerous volunteers from Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Rush University and orthotic company Scheck and Siress also donated their time and medical materials for basic foot care.
Dr. Lin fits a patient with new shoes
Dr. Lee and Dr. Lin performed over 130 foot and ankle examinations and distributed 120 pairs of shoes. They were assisted by Lauren Simpson PA-C and the following Rush University Medical Center students: Sean Dyer, Frank Wydra, Bob Sershon, Brad Johnson, Megan Kelly, Kelli DeLay, Michelle Yu, Michael Lamberta, Dan Heiferman, Joel Campbell (M2), Vasili Karas (M3), Nicole Friel (M4).
About Soles4Souls™
Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 5.5 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes. Visit www.soles4souls.org for more information.
About the Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph
Physicians and students from Rush University Medical Center volunteer their time and talents to staff the medical clinic at Franciscan House of Mary & Joseph. The clinic is the major source of medical care for many of the shelter's residents. The shelter provides a meal, a shower and a safe place to sleep for up to 209 men and 37 women each night, making it one of the larger overnight shelters in Chicago.
