Our Mission
To be the leader in orthopedic post-academic education, research and the treatment of lower extremity deformities in children and adults in communities in need.
CLESF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit (IRS Tax Code) founded in 2006.
Background
Giving Children a Chance to Walk, Inspire, Dream.
In 2006, Ramiro J. Atristaín-Carrión and Dr. Edgardo R. Rodriguez founded CLESF after seeing a critical need: children in Latin America living with severe lower-extremity deformities who had limited access to specialized orthopedic care.
Since then, CLESF has brought together dedicated orthopedic surgeons who donate their time, expertise, and resources to treat complex cases. Using advanced techniques in external fixation, deformity correction, limb lengthening, flap coverage, and microsurgery, they help children restore function, preserve limbs, and build a brighter future.
But the work goes beyond surgery. Through an annual Symposium, CLESF brings surgeons together to share knowledge, advance surgical education, and strengthen orthopedic care in the communities it serves.
For two decades, CLESF has been powered by the generosity of physicians, volunteers, organizations, and donors who believe that where a child is born should not determine their opportunity to walk, inspire, and dream.
Learn more. Get involved. Help us change a child’s future.
