Thought Leadership

Operation Smile staff and volunteers are at the forefront of cleft research and collaboration.

Featured Stories

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Using AI to Help Create New Smiles and Rebuild Lives

Operation Smile has teamed up with Microsoft to leverage Artificial Intelligence, allowing surgeons to bring the gold standard of care to even the most remote places in the world.

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Operation Smile was proud to participate as a programming partner at the 2024 Concordia Summit. Our Chief Strategy Officer, Kristie Magee Porcaro, led an engaging fireside chat titled “A Blueprint for Sustainable Access to Surgical Care.” In this session, Porcaro explored how innovative solutions and strategic partnerships can address barriers to health care access, such as distance, financial challenges and gaps in medical infrastructure. The conversation highlighted the power of collaboration across sectors to build stronger, more resilient communities and transform global health care.

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Operation Smile Publications

Our research initiatives encompass a wide variety of topics covering cleft-specific and general surgical care, including epidemiology, genetics, barriers to care, surgical outcomes, leadership, health systems, policy, and education and training.

Celie KB, Mocharnuk J, Kanmounye U, Ayala R, Banu T, Lakhoo K. The importance of global bioethics to paediatric health care. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. 2024; 8(5).
Dadson, Shirley Sarah BS, MBChB(c)a; Nuamah, Jonathan Ayeyi BS, MBChB(c)a; Kanmounye, Ulrick Sidney MDb; Umutoni, Alice MBChBb. Building the Next Generation of African Plastic Surgeons. Annals of Plastic Surgery ():10.1097/SAP.0000000000004096, September 4, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000004096
Gebremariyam, Zenebe T. MD, FCS-ECSA; Weldemichael, Nebiyat A. MD, FCS-ECSA. Pioneering Microsurgery Services in Low-income Countries: Insights from a Plastic Surgeon’s Experience in Ethiopia. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery-Global Open 12(4):p e5705, April 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005705

Celie KB, Auslander A, Kuschner S. Communicating conviction: A pilot study of patient perspectives on guidance during medical decision-making in the United States. Clinical Ethics. 2023;0(0). doi:10.1177/14777509231210770

Celie KB, Paris JJ. Bearing the mark of pain: mystery in medicine. Philos Ethics Humanit Med. 2023 May 19;18(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s13010-023-00134-8. PMID: 37202811

Jumbam DT, Bustamante A, Alayande BT, et al. To advance global surgery and anaesthesia, train more advocates. BMJ Global Health 2023;8:e012848

Jumbam DT, Reddy CL, Meara JG, Makasa EM, Atun R. A financing strategy to expand surgical health care. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2023;11(3):e2100295. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00295

Manojlovic Z, Auslander A, Jin Y, Schmidt RJ, Xu Y, Chang S, Song R, Ingles SA, Nunes A, Vavra KC, Feigelson D, Rakotoarison S, DiBona M, Magee K, Smile O, Ramamonjisoa A, Magee Iii W. Genome Analysis Using Whole-Exome Sequencing of Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate from Malagasy Trios Identifies Variants Associated with Cilium-Related Pathways and Asian Genetic Ancestry. Genes (Basel). 2023 Mar 7;14(3):665. doi: 10.3390/genes14030665. PMID: 36980938

Mikhail S, Chattopadhyay L, DiBona M, Steppling C, Kwadjo D, Ramamonjisoa A, Gallardo W, Almendarez F, Sylvester B, Rosales S, Nthalika I, Collier ZJ, Magee W 3rd, Auslander A. The effect of short-term preoperative nutritional intervention for cleft surgery eligibility. BMC Nutr. 2023 Mar 14;9(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s40795-023-00704-1. PMID: 36918940

Won P., Celie KB, Rutter C., Gillenwater T., Yenikomshian H. Burn Patient Perspectives on Disability Weights and the Philosophy of Disability: A Gap in the Literature. Eur. Burn J. 2023, 4(4), 563-572; https://doi.org/10.3390/ebj4040037

Celie KB, Wlodarczyk J, Naidu P, Tapia MF, Nagengast E, Yao C, Magee W 3rd. Sagittal Growth Restriction of the Midface Following Isolated Cleft Lip Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2022 Jul 25:10556656221116005. Epub ahead of print.
Msokera, C., Xepoleas, M., Collier, Z.J. et al. A plastic and reconstructive surgery landscape assessment of Malawi: a scoping review of Malawian literature. Eur J Med Res 27, 119 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-022-00714-y
Kanmounye, U. S., Dutton, J. L., Naidu, P., Msokera, C., Collier, Z. J., Fernanda Tapia, M., Mikhail, S., Xepoleas, M., Auslander, A., Yao, C. A., & Magee, W. (2022). Cleft Lip and Palate Research in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Scientometric Analysis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 10(2), e4122.
Munabi NCO, Auslander A, Xepoleas MD, Bunker LD, Vangsness KL, et al. (2022) The influence of an all-female healthcare environment on mentorship and empowerment of female healthcare professionals. PLOS Global Public Health 2(3): e0000081. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000081
Wydick, B., Zahid, M., Manning, S., Maller, J., Evsanaa, K., Skjoldhorne, S., Bloom, M., Das, A., Deshpande, G. (2022). The Impact of Cleft Lip/Palate and Surgical Intervention on Adolescent Life Outcomes. Annals of Global Health, 88(1), 25. http://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3679

Swanson MA, Auslander A, Morales T, Jedrzejewski B, Magee WP 3rd, Siu A, Ayala R, Swanson JW. (2021). Predictors of Complication Following Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery in a Low-Resource Setting: A Prospective Outcomes Study in Nicaragua.,Online ahead of print, 18:10556656211046810
Munabi NCO, Xepoleas MD, Vangsness KL, Koualla S, Magee WP 3rd, Yao CA. (2021). Impact of an All-Female Surgical Team on Moroccan Patient Perspectives of Female Healthcare Providers. 45(11):3280-3287.
Yao CA, Vartanian ED, Nagengast E, McCullough M, Auslander A, Magee WP 3rd. (2021). The Smile Index: Part 3. A Simple, Prognostic Severity Scale for Unilateral Cleft Palate. 9(10):e3870.
McCullough M, Ly S, Auslander A, Yao C, Campbell A, Scherer S, Magee WP 3rd. (2021). Convolutional Neural Network Models for Automatic Preoperative Severity Assessment in Unilateral Cleft Lip.148(1):162-169.
Nagengast, E.S., Munabi, N.C.O., Xepoleas, M., Auslander, A., Magee, W., & Chong, D. (2021). The Local Mission: Improving Access to Surgical Care in Middle-Income Countries. World Journal of Surgery, 45, 962–969.
Said, S., Chattopadhyay, L., DiBona, M., Steppling, C., Kwadjo, D., Ramamonjisoa, M., Gallardo, W., Almendarez, F., Rosales, S., Nthalika, Ibrahim., Magee, W., & Auslander, A. (2021). Short-term preoperative nutritional intervention for cleft lip and/or palate surgery eligibility: an effectiveness evaluation in six countries. The Lancet Global Health, 9(S24).
McCullough, M., Auslander, A., Nagengast, E. S., Yao, C. A., Swanson, J. W., & Magee, W. P., 3rd (2021). The Use of Crowdsourcing Technology to Evaluate Preoperative Severity in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip in a Multiethnic Population. The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 32(2), 482–485.
Jumbam, D. T., Touray, S., & Totimeh, T. (2021). The role of journals and journal editors in advancing global health research equity. Anaesthesia, 10.1111/anae.15638. Advance online publication. Jumbam, D. T., Touray, S., & Totimeh, T. (2021). The role of journals and journal editors in advancing global health research equity. Anaesthesia, 10.1111/anae.15638. Advance online publication.
Jumbam DT, Durnwald L, Munabi NCO, Ayala R. (2021) Implementation science: A missing link in global surgery. East Cent Afr J Surg, 26(2):45-48.
Desai, P. P., Brock, E.B., Didericksen, K. W., Olsson, J. M. (2021). Exploring Life Role and Impact of Providing Psychosocial Care During Short-Term Medical Missions. The Journal of Child Life: Psychosocial Theory and Practice, 2(1), 26-41.
Espinosa, A. S., Martinez, J. C., Molina, Y., Gordillo, M., Hernández, D. R., Rivera, D. Z., Olmos, B. P., Ramírez, N., Arias, L., Zarate, A., Diana Marcela Diaz, Q., Collins, A., Cepeda, Á., & Balcazar, I. B. (2021). Clinical and Descriptive Study of Orofacial Clefts in Colombia: 2069 Patients From Operation Smile Foundation. The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, 10556656211000551. Advance online publication.
Kalmar, C. L., Siu, A., Alvarez, E., & Swanson, J. W. (2021). Modified Buccal Myomucosal Flap Closure of Large Anterior Palatal Oronasal Fistulas. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 147(1), 94e–97e.
Takoutsing, B. D., Ikwuegbuenyi, C., Umutoni, A., Ogunfolaji, O., Bankole, N., Mpokota, R., Adegboyega, G., Kanmounye, U. S., & Dokponou, Y. (2021). Health systems strengthening, dissemination, and implementation science in Africa: quo vadis?. The Pan African medical journal, 40, 51.

Munabi, N. C. O., Durnwald, L., Nagengast, E. S., Ntirenganya, F., & Magee III, W. P. (2020). Long-Term Impact of a Mission-Based Surgical Training Rotation on Plastic Surgery Capacity Building in Rwanda. Journal of Surgical Education, 77(1), 124-130.
Xepoleas, M. D., Munabi, N., Auslander, A., Magee, W. P., & Yao, C. A. (2020). The experiences of female surgeons around the world: a scoping review. Human resources for health, 18(1), 80.
Auslander, A., McKean-Cowdin, R., Brindopke, F., Sylvester, B., DiBona, M., Magee, K., Kapoor, R., Conti, D. V., Rakotoarison, S., Magee, W., 3rd, & Operation Smile International Family Study Group* (2020). The role of smoke from cooking indoors over an open flame and parental smoking on the risk of cleft lip and palate: A case- control study in 7 low-resource countries. Journal of global health, 10(2), 020410.
Sylvester, B., Brindopke, F., Suzuki, A., Giron, M., Auslander, A., Maas, R. L., Tsai, B., Gao, H., Magee, W., 3rd, Cox, T. C., & Sanchez-Lara, P. A. (2020). A Synonymous Exonic Splice Silencer Variant in IRF6 as a Novel and Cryptic Cause of Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip and Palate. Genes, 11(8), 903.
Jumbam DT, Durnwald L, Ayala R, Kanmounye US. (2020) The role of non-governmental organizations in advancing the global surgery goals. J Public Health Emerg, 4:18.

Campbell, A., Restrepo, C., Park, E., Navas, G., Deshpande, G., Swanson, J., et al. (2019). Influence of severity on aesthetic outcomes of unilateral cleft lip repair in 1,823 patients. PRS Global Open, 7(1), e2083.
Auslander, A., Mckean-Cowdin, R., Brindopke, F., Magee, K., DiBona, M., & Magee, W. (2019). Environmental risk factors for cleft lip and palate in low-resource settings: a case-control study. The Lancet Global Health, 7(S19), 19.
Yao, C. A., McCullough, M., Auslander, A., Imahiyerobo, T. A., Vander Burg, R., & Magee, W. P. III. (2019). The Smile Index: Part 2. A Simple, Prognostic Severity Scale for Unilateral Cleft Lip. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 143(4), 790e-797e.
Burton, Z. A., Ayele, Y., & McDonald, P. (2019). Establishing a sustainable anaesthetic education programme at Jimma University Medical Centre, Ethiopia. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, 47(4), 334-342.
Munabi, N. C. O., Durnwald, L., Nagengast, E. S., Auslander, A., Ntirenganya, F., & Magee III, W. P. (2019). Pilot Evaluation of the Impact of a Mission-Based Surgical Training Rotation on the Plastic Surgery Skills and Competencies Development of General Surgery Residents in Rwanda. Journal of Surgical Education, 76(6), 1579-1587.
Gualy, S., Herrera, C., Warden, C., Valle, T., Barnum, J., Colman, B., Siu, A., & Swanson, J. W. (2019). Enabling Community Health Worker Recognition and Referral of Surgical Diseases: Pilot Study Results of a Pictorial Guide. World Journal of Surgery, 43(12), 2949-2958.
Butali, A., Mossey, P. A., Adeyemo, W. L., Eshete, M. A., Gowans, L., Busch, T. D., Jain, D., Yu, W., Huan, L., Laurie, C. A., Laurie, C. C., Nelson, S., Li, M., Sanchez-Lara, P. A., Magee, W. P., Magee, K. S., Auslander, A., Brindopke, F., Kay, D. M., Caggana, M., … Adeyemo, A. A. (2019). Genomic analyses in African populations identify novel risk loci for cleft palate. Human molecular genetics, 28(6), 1038–1051.

Stewart, B.T., Hatcher, K. W., Sengupta, A., and Vander Burg, R. (2018). Cleft-Related Infanticide and Abandonment: A Systematic Review of the Academic and Lay Literature. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 55(1), 98-104.
Yao, C. A., Imahiyerobo, T., Swanson, J., Auslander, A., de Cardenas, D., Figueiredo, J. C., et al. (2018). The Smile Index: Part 1. A Large-Scale Study of Phenotypic Norms for Preoperative and Postoperative Unilateral Cleft Lip. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 141(1), 137-146.
McCullough, M., Campbell, A., Siu, A., Durnwald, L., Kumar, S., Magee III, W. P., & Swanson, J. (2018). Competency-Based Education in Low Resource Settings: Development of a Novel Surgical Training Program. World Journal of Surgery, 42(3), 646-651.
Park, E., Deshpande, G., Schonmeyr, B., Restrepo, C., & Campbell, A. (2018). Improved Early Cleft Lip and Palate Complications at a Surgery Specialty Center in the Developing World. The Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Journal, 55(8), 1145-1152.
Park, E., McCullough, M., Purnell, C., & Gosain, A. K. (2018). Incorporating Global Health Experience and Research into Plastic Surgery Training: How and Why. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 6(7), e1809.

Swanson, J. W., Yao, C. A., Auslander, A., et al. (2017). Patient barriers to accessing surgical cleft care in Vietnam: a multi-site, cross-sectional outcomes study. World Journal of Surgery, 41(6), 1435-1446.
Ly, S., Burg, M. L., Ihenacho, U., et al. (2017). Paternal Risk Factors for Oral Clefts in Northern Africans, Southeast Asians, and Central Americans. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), 657.
Campbell, A. C., Restrepo, C., Deshpande, G., et al. (2017). Validation of the Unilateral Cleft Lip Severity Index for Surgeons and Laypersons. PRS Global Open, 5(9), e1479.
Campbell, A. C., Restrepo, C., Deshpande, G., et al. (2017). Validation of a Unilateral Cleft Lip Surgical Outcomes Evaluation Scale for Surgeons and Laypersons. PRS Global Open, 5(9), e1472.
Jerome, M.A., Gillenwater, J., Laub, D. R., et al. (2017). Primary Cleft Lip and Palate Repair in Assam, India: Does Preoperative Anthropometric Analysis Help Identify Patients With Increased Surgical Risk in a Clinically Prescreened Population? The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 54(6), 720-725.

Taro, T., Yao, C. A., Ly. S., et al. (2016). The Global Surgery Partnership: An Innovative Partnership for Education, Research, and Service. Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 91(1), 75-78.
Campbell, A. (2016). Disruptive Innovation in Surgical Education. The Journal of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, 1(1), 6-7.
Burg, M. L., Chai, Y., Yao. C. A., Magee III, W. P., & Figueiredo, J. C. (2016). Epidemiology, Etiology, and Treatment of Isolated Cleft Palate. Frontiers in Physiology, 7(article 67).
Yao, C. A., Taro, T. B., Wipfli, H. L., et al. (2016). The Tsao Fellowship in Global Health: A Model for International Fellowships in a Surgery Residency. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 27(2), 282-285.
Schönmeyr, B., Wendby, L., & Campbell, A. (2016). Surgical Complications in 1408 Primary Cleft Palate Repairs Operated at a Single Center in Guwahati, Assam, India. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 53(3), 278-282.
Jones, C., Campbell, A. C., Magee, W. P., Ayala, R., & Mackay, D. R. (2016). The Expanding Role of Education and Research in International Healthcare. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 76, S150-S154.
Yao, C., Swanson, J., McCullough, M., et al. (2016). The Medical Mission and Modern Core Competency Training: A 10-Year Follow-Up of Resident Experiences in Global Plastic Surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 138(3), 531e-538e.
Stewart, B. T., Carlson, L., Hatcher, K. W., et al. (2016). Estimate of Unmet Need for Cleft Lip and/or Palate Surgery in India. JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, 18(5), 354-361.
Yao, C. A., Swanson, J., Chanson, D., et al. (2016). Barriers to Reconstructive Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-Sectional Study of 453 Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Patients in Vietnam. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 138(5), 887e-895e.
Carlson, L. C., Stewart, B. T., Hatcher, K. W., et al. (2016). A Model of the Unmet Need for Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. World Journal of Surgery, 40(12), 2857-2867.

Carlson, L. C., Hatcher, K. W., Tomberg, L., et al. (2015). Inequitable Access to Timely Cleft Palate Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. World Journal of Surgery, 40(5), 1047-1052.
Deshpande, G. & Schönmeyr, B. (2015). Using Electronic Tablets as a Teaching Tool for Marking Cleft Lip Repairs. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 68(1), 122-123.
Carlson, L. C., Hatcher, K. W., Ayala, R., Magee, W. P., & Vander Burg, R. (2015). Quality-driven programming in global surgery: A 30-Year institutional experience delivering safe, timely and effective surgical care. Annals of Global Health, 81(1), 189.
Deshpande, G., Wendby, L., Jagtap, R., & Schönmeyr B. (2015). The Efficacy of Vomer Flap for Closure of Hard Palate During Primary Lip Repair. The Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 68, 940-945.
Vander Burg, R., Kabetu, C., & Ayala, R. (2015). Surgical Missions: A View from Yet Another Side. JAMA Surgery, 150(7), 688.
Persing, S., Patel, A., Clune, J. E., Steinbacher, D. M., & Persing, J. A. (2015). The Repair of International Clefts in the Current Surgical Landscape. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(4), 1126-1128.
Brooke, S., Samson, T., & Mackay D. (2015). Challenges of Organizing Mission Surgery in Resource Limited Environments. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(4), 1075-1078.
Carlson, L., Hatcher, K. W., Vander Burg, R., et al. (2015). A Health Systems Perspective on the Mission Model for Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Surgery: A Matter of Sustainability or Responsibility? The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(4), 1079-1083.
Simmons, B. J., Gishen, K. E., Dalsania, R. M., & Thaller, S. R. (2015). An Evaluation of the Value of Plastic Surgery Mission Trips in Resident Education by Attending Physicians. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(4), 1091-1094.
Schönmeyr, B., Wendby, L., Sharma, M. et al. (2015). Limited Chances of Speech Improvement After Late Cleft Palate Repair. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(4), 1182-1185.
Hackenburg, B., Ramos, M., Campbell, A., et al. (2015). Measuring and Comparing the Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical Care Delivery in Low-Resource Settings: Cleft Lip and Palate as a Model. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(4), 1121-1125.
Schönmeyr, B., Wendby, L., Sharma, M., et al. (2015). Speech and Speech-Related Quality of Life After Late Palate Repair: A Patient’s Perspective. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 26(5), 1513-1516
Aznar, M. L., Schönmeyr, B., Echaniz, G., et al. (2015). Role of Postoperative Antimicrobials in Cleft Palate Surgery: Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study in India. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 136(1), 59e-66e.
Figueiredo, J. C., Ly, S., Magee, K. S., et al. (2015). Parental risk factors for oral clefts among Central Africans, Southeast Asians, and Central Americans. Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 103(10), 863-879.
Costa, M. A., Yao, C. A., Gillenwater, T. J., Taghva, G. H., Abrishami, S., Green, T. A., & Magee, W. P. (2015). Telemedicine in Cleft Care: Reliability and Predictability in Regional and International Practice Settings. The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 26(4), 1116–1120.

Fellowships

Operation Smile is committed to educating the next generation of thought leaders.

Learn more about the fellowships we offer.

The Global Surgery Fellowship program gives young medical professionals long-term opportunities to expand and enhance their global health knowledge and expertise. The fellows are fully integrated into Operation Smile’s work and gain exposure to research, advocacy and on-ground programmatic global surgery initiatives in the low-and middle-income countries where we work.

Learn more about the Global Surgery Fellowship.

The Women in Medicine Leadership Fellowship is a part-time fellowship tailored for passionate women in the healthcare workforce in low- and middle-income countries who have demonstrated an eagerness to enter leadership roles and advance gender equality in their health care systems. Fellows complete this experience while continuing their patient care and leadership work. This fellowship aims to provide emerging women leaders in health care in their early and mid-careers with the knowledge, skills and networks necessary to drive positive change in their health care systems and advance gender equality. It provides a supportive cohort of other women, practical training on leadership skills and management tools, and mentorship. Fellows benefit from training on leadership fundamentals, communication skills, project management, research, evidence-based management, resource management and individual and organizational sustainability. This fellowship helps women advance into leadership positions through equipping them with the skills and support to help them overcome barriers.

Learn about the Women in Medicine program.

Thought Leadership

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Using AI to Help Create New Smiles and Rebuild Lives

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Operation Smile Publications

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Meet the Doctor Mixing Data and AI to Help Expand Operation Smile’s Global Impact

Using AI to Help Create New Smiles and Rebuild Lives

Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Health Systems

Transforming Lives Through Equity

Driven to Lead: Q&A with Abhishek Sengupta

Making History With Safety and Care

Discovering the Causes of Cleft, Part 2

Discovering the Causes of Cleft, Part 1

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