Physicians' Training Program

Operation Smile's annual Physicians' Training Program (PTP) invites medical professionals from our partner countries to the U.S. and provides them the opportunity to gain knowledge and training within their different specialties. Since 1987, Operation Smile has partnered with universities, hospitals, and other organizations to coordinate training that better equips participants for medical practice, as well as connects them with other medical volunteers from all over the world. We also hope PTP inspires medical professionals towards volunteerism, to donate their time and skills.

As Operation Smile has grown over the years, so has PTP. Not only has the number of participants grown, but also the scope of the program. Some recent developments include the addition of the nursing and Ddental programs in 2007, and the addition of speech pathology in 2008. All the programs are becoming more specific to the needs of Operation Smile volunteers. We also consistantly work to effectively engage the culturally diverse group of international medical professionals who attend. It is exciting to see PTP become more successful each year.

PTP 2008

This past year, 91 professionals, including plastic surgeons, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, dentists, nurses, and speech therapy providers, came together from 29 countries to participate in a multi-faceted, two-week program. Operation Smile partnered with Duke University, the University of Maryland, George Washington University, Old Dominion University, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, and the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to provide very specific training to each of the specialties represented.

The visiting professionals trained on state-of-the-art equipment, received instruction from top professors in their field, and observed complex craniofacial surgeries and cutting-edge patient care. In addition, many of the participants also received certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and/or Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association. 

To date, Operation Smile has welcomed more than
800 medical professionals to participate in PTP.