The Mission:
Periodically, Dr. Turaga travels to India to operate on children born with clubfoot and vertical talus — and on adults whose feet have been reshaped by leprosy. For them, surgery is the difference between a life confined and a life in motion.
But the same need exists much closer to home.
In Seattle, men and women living without shelter face a quieter foot crisis. They can find primary care, mental health support, and follow-up clinics — but there is nowhere to turn for the part of the body that carries them through every freezing night. Without socks, shoes, or a place to wash, a small blister can turn into an infection. A cold toe can turn into frostbite. Too often, the first medical visit is an emergency room, and the only option left is amputation — and a much harder life on the other side of it.
It doesn’t have to end that way.
Funds raised through this event support two efforts, side by side:
Surgical missions in India — for children with congenital foot deformities and adults living with the long-term effects of leprosy.
A free foot care clinic in Seattle — for our unhoused neighbors, offering wound care, hygiene, warm socks, and the simple dignity of being seen.
Two communities. One purpose. Healing starts from the ground up.
Leprosy
Leprosy is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the skin, nerves, hands, and feet. When left untreated, it damages sensation and movement, causing wounds, deformities, ulcers, and lifelong disability. Many patients lose the ability to feel pain in their hands and feet, turning simple injuries into serious infections that make walking, working, and daily life incredibly difficult.
Leprosy in underprivileged communities can leave affected individuals impoverished and unable to provide for themselves due to limited access to healthcare, disability accommodations, education, employment opportunities, and mobility support.
Associated Surgeries:
- Tibialis posterior tendon transfer
- Achilles tendon lengthening
- Claw toe correction
- Metatarsal head resection
Clubfoot
Clubfoot is a foot deformity present at birth in which the foot is twisted inward and downward, making it difficult or impossible to place flat on the ground. It can significantly impact mobility if untreated, leading to pain, gait abnormalities, and long-term disability. It can affect bone alignment muscle balance, and walking development.
Associated Surgeries:
- Ponseti method with percutaneous Achilles tenotomy
- Posteromedial release
- Achilles tendon tightening
- Triple arthrodesis (Severe Cases)
Congenital Vertical Talus
Congenital vertical talus is a foot deformity present at birth in which the foot has a rigid “rocker-bottom” appearance caused by abnormal positioning of the bones and joints of the foot. The arch is reversed and the front of the foot points upward while the heel points downward, making it difficult or impossible to place the foot flat on the ground normally.
If untreated, it can significantly affect mobility, balance, and walking development, leading to pain, stiffness, gait abnormalities, and long-term disability. The condition can impact bone alignment, joint function, muscle balance, and overall foot development.
Associated Surgeries:
- Open reduction of the talonavicular joint
- Soft tissue release
- Achilles tendon lengthening
- Triple arthrodesis (Severe Cases)
Lalita Turaga, DPM
Lalita Turaga, DPM, is a well-rounded, board-certified podiatrist who provides surgical and non-surgical care for foot and ankle conditions, with special interests in diabetic limb salvage, and foot and ankle trauma. Her patient-centered, integrated approach takes into consideration the whole body, including associated co-morbidities. Dr. Turaga currently works at Evergreen Health and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Dr. Turaga is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association and Washington State Podiatric Medical Association. She believes strongly in service to others and often performs medical mission trips to India. On these mission trips, Dr. Turaga provides treatment to patients with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy), congenital foot deformities, and diabetic neuropathy.
Dr. Turaga earned her degree in Biotechnology in India, followed by premedical studies at Rosalind Franklin University in Illinois. She went on to receive her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital. She then pursued advanced fellowship training in diabetic limb salvage and reconstructive surgery at Emory University.
Dr. Turaga has participated in multiple mission trips in places such as Kolkata, Tirupati, and other smaller rural towns in Andhra Pradesh. She has performed surgeries at BIRRD Hospital, where she treated patients with congenital vertical talus and clubfoot. Her work in these settings has focused on restoring mobility and preventing long-term disability in underserved populations with limited access to specialized foot and ankle care, often addressing complex deformities in both children and adults.
