Champions of Care

“I would love for every Johnson & Johnson employee, including their children, to have an opportunity to visit this facility [Interactive Learning Center]. They have done a great job building this facility to make you feel like you are there, enabling you to put yourselves in the shoes of a patient and their family, understanding the challenges they face to get to the surgical site. It’s a very humbling experience to be here.” -Darcy Huda, Senior Manager Salesforce Excellence at Johnson & Johnson

On Wednesday, November 15, a dynamic team of Johnson & Johnson champions, including Angela Li, head of strategy of Ethicon US, Darcy Huda, senior manager of Salesforce excellence at Johnson & Johnson Vision, Jennifer Jones, senior marketing manager of US marketing, academic health systems at Ethicon, Inc., Natalie May, contract manager of Johnson and Johnson and Susan Tracy, senior marketing manager of Ethicon US, conducted a transformative day of service at Operation Smile’s Interactive Learning Center.

The day kicked off with an exciting tour of Operation Smile’s facilities — the Interactive Learning Center and warehouse. 

In the warehouse, employees saw firsthand the Ethicon sutures that provide smiles to our patients worldwide. On this experience, Darcy reflected, “[I’ve enjoyed] learning about how our products have been integral to helping Operation Smile give the best products to the patients, because they deserve the best. They deserve safe surgery. They deserve access to care around the world and they deserve to have products that we would put into our own families as well.”

The tour was led by ILC Curriculum Specialist and Cleft Connect Advocate Jackson Doane, who inspired all by sharing his personal journey being born with cleft.

In the spirit of hands-on giving, the team lovingly sewed and packed Smile bags for patients, adding a personal touch to their commitment. 

Each bag included a handwritten letter to a patient along with a personalized 3D printed compact mirror. This Smile Bag and the mirror will be gifted to the patient at a pivotal point in their healing journey, the moment after surgery a patient sees their new smile for the first time.

Our champions, each with their unique expertise, tackled the World of Medicine Escape Room Challenge with precision. They demonstrated the teamwork and values of determination that represent the decades-long partnership between Operation Smile and Johnson & Johnson.

Johnson & Johnson has been a steadfast supporter of Operation Smile, sharing a vision of providing free surgery for patients affected by cleft conditions.

As Operation Smile expresses gratitude for our champions’ integral role, we look forward to continuing this heartwarming partnership into the next decade. Together, we’re not just changing lives; we’re making smiles happen and inspiring future generations.