One child’s smile becomes a healthier future for an entire community.
Join Operation Smile in creating a better future where every child like Leao has access to the safe surgery they need.
Together, we can transform lives, communities and local health systems.
Recent Highlights
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Thought Leadership
Using AI to Help Create New Smiles and Rebuild Lives
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Care Providers
Visit With a Surgical Volunteer in Mexico
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Care Providers
From Medical Records Volunteer to Executive Director
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Education
Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week
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Care Providers
Through a Resident’s Eyes
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Thought Leadership
Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Health Systems
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Patients
Mateo’s Journey
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Patients
Meet Isaac
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Patients
Meet Camila and Mateo and Their Moms
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Care Providers
What’s Your Reason?
Our Growing Impact on Global Health Equity
Through bold, innovative action, Operation Smile helps communities shape their own models of care to propel lasting change.
420k+
Patients Treated
6,000
Volunteers
37
Countries We Provide Care In
Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition.
This affects their health and futures. We are committed to providing comprehensive cleft care, transforming their lives and strengthening the health systems in their communities.
Where We Work
It began with a single surgical program and grew into a global network united by the belief that high-quality health care is a universal human right, not a privilege.
A World of Care
We work tirelessly to ensure access to high-quality, comprehensive care around the world.
40+
countries Operation Smile has presences in.
China
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in China was held in 1991.
27,000+
Patients Treated
Russia
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Russia was held in 1993.
30
Credentialed Volunteers
Italy
Operation Smile established a presence in Italy in 2000.
100+
Credentialed Volunteers
United States
Bill Magee and Kathy Magee founded Operation Smile in Norfolk, Virginia in 1982.
1,000+
Credentialed Volunteers
Ethiopia
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Ethiopia was held in 2005.
1,900+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Ireland
Operation Smile established a presence in Ireland in 2004.
50+
Credentialed Volunteers
Australia
Operation Smile established a presence in Australia in 1999.
100+
Credentialed Volunteers
Canada
Operation Smile established a presence in Canada in 2011.
150+
Credentialed Volunteers
Norway
Operation Smile established a presence in Norway in 2023.
10+
Credentialed Volunteers
South Korea
Operation Smile established a presence in South Korea in 2012.
$725,000+
Raised to Support Life-Changing Care
Sweden
Operation Smile established a presence in Sweden in 2010.
175+
Credentialed Volunteers
Switzerland
Operation Smile established a presence in Switzerland in 2015.
2
Credentialed Volunteers
United Kingdom
Operation Smile established a presence in the United Kingdom in 2001.
75+
Credentialed Volunteers
Bolivia
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Bolivia was held in 1999.
6,630+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Brazil
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Brazil was held in 1997.
6,000+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Colombia
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Colombia was held in 1988.
23,000+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Dominican Republic
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in the Dominican Republic was held in 2009.
4,600+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Ecuador
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Ecuador was held in 1995.
8,000+
Surgeries Provided
Guatemala
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Guatemala was held in 2011.
1,300+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Honduras
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Honduras was held in 1997.
6,500+
Patients Treated
Mexico
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Mexico was held in 2006.
6,400+
Surgeries Provided
Panama
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Panama was held in 1991.
4,500+
Cleft Surgeries
Paraguay
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Paraguay was held in 2005.
3,400+
Cleft Surgeries
Peru
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Peru was held in 1999.
7,000+
Patients Treated
Venezuela
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Venezuela was held in 1993.
9,000+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
India
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in India was held in 2002.
30,000+
Patients Treated
Myanmar
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Myanmar was held in 2010.
900+
Surgeries Provided
Pakistan
Operation Smile joined forces with the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Pakistan in 2023.
7
Credentialed Volunteers
Egypt
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Egypt was held in 2006.
4,700+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Jordan
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Jordan was held in 2000.
4,000+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
United Arab Emirates
Operation Smile established a presence in the United Arab Emirates in 2011.
50+
Credentialed Volunteers
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2009.
2,500+
Surgery Patients
Ghana
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Ghana was held in 2011.
1,900+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Kenya
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Kenya was held in 1987.
9,000
Patients Treated
Madagascar
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Madagascar was held in 2007.
4,300+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Malawi
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Malawi was held in 2012.
2,300+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Mozambique
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Mozambique was held in 2014.
200+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Rwanda
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Rwanda was held in 2010.
1,900+
Surgeries Provided
South Africa
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in South Africa was held in 2006.
470+
Surgeries Provided
Morocco
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Morocco was held in 1998.
13,000+
Cleft Surgeries Provided
Philippines
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in the Philippines was held in 1982.
45,000+
Patients Treated
Thailand
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Thailand was held in 1997.
12,800+
Patients Treated
Vietnam
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Vietnam was held in 1989.
66,000+
Patients Treated
Tanzania
Operation Smile established a presence in Tanzania in 2024.
What Makes Operation Smile Special?
Years of on-the-ground medical care, combined with a love and passion for children with cleft conditions, drive our mission.
More Than 40 Years of Health Care Innovation
We diligently brought comprehensive cleft care to communities that lacked access — and we’ve implemented bold, innovative solutions to health care inequity ever since.
Read our story and impact
Comprehensive Care Model
Because we deeply understand the full complexity of cleft conditions’ impact on children, families and communities, Operation Smile takes care of the whole person.
Learn about our approach to care
Elevating Health Systems
Having access to care close to home is the key to strengthening local health systems. We are training doctors, nurses and whole surgical teams to serve communities around the globe.
Learn about our education programs
More Than 6,000 Volunteers Strong
Operation Smile medical programs are almost entirely volunteer-based, so we rely on medical professionals who can take charge of their roles with confidence, conviction and world-class skill. We have more than 6,000 volunteers from 60 countries, and approximately 80% of our volunteers are from the countries we provide care in.
Learn about our medical volunteers
Pedro’s cleft lip and palate prevented him from speaking clearly and communicating easily.
While living in a refugee camp in Colombia, Pedro’s mom, Marbelis, found hope and care for her son.
