Additional Medical Programs
Research Programs
Through Operation Smile’s Research Council, doctors and researchers are collaborating globally to improve the future for children born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate. The Operation Smile Institutional Review Board (IRB), following stipulations of the federal government, reviews and fund selected research projects. The Board works in conjunction with the Research Council that is focused on the prevention and treatment of birth defects through education, nutrition, pre-natal care, new medicines and new equipment. During the World Journey of Smiles, Operation Smile conducted a research project:
- DNA samples collected from 3,014 patients in 11 countries;
- To be analyzed and screened with the hope of identifying the genetic markers that differentiate people with cleft lips or cleft palates.
Post Operative Care Program
The Post-operative Follow-up Care Program provides our patients with comprehensive care after surgery by evaluating their health, the progress of their surgical treatment and their speech, and, if necessary, delivering further medical care. Patients are examined one-week, six months and one year after their Operation Smile surgery. Outcome studies are performed and patient progress is tracked by Operation Smile’s electronic medical records, digital speech recordings, and digital photography. The Post-operative Program not only facilitates our surgeons’ continual education, but ensures our patients receive the highest quality of care.
Global Standards of Care
For Operation Smile’s 25th anniversary year, we announced a plan to implement Global Standards of Care as a commitment to ensuring that every patient treated by Operation Smile will benefit from the same sophisticated equipment, procedures and highly training and credentialed staff, no matter where they receive treatment around the world.
