U.S. Care Network
Operation Smile now provides a network of resources to assist families in the U.S. with children with facial deformities. This network includes three components:- A listing of Referral Web Sites to provide valuable resource information about facial deformities.
- A Physician Resource List including the names of doctors who volunteer with Operation Smile and are available to review a case.
- An Operation Smile representative to provide guidance by telephone: 757-321-3232 or via email at uscare@operationsmile.org.
Additional information on Operation Smiles U.S. Care Network is available at U.S. Program History.
Referral Websites
Disclaimer: The information on this website is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Operation Smile provides links to other resources without endorsement and claims no responsibility for their content. For information on how to help a child with a cleft lip, cleft palate or other craniofacial anomaly, try these links to other organizations:
- American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and Cleft Palate Foundation: Operates the CLEFTLINE 1-800-24-CLEFT and produces free publications.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Provides public education about plastic surgery.
- Children's Craniofacial Association: CCA operates a toll-free hotline 1-800-535-3643, provides information & support, and offers financial assistance for lodging and travel.
- Cleft Advocate: Provides educational opportunities, support networks and insurance guidelines.
- FACES: The National Craniofacial Association: Addresses three distinct areas: Client Travel, Public Awareness and Understanding, and Information and Support.
- Family Voices: Aims to achieve family-centered care for children with special health care needs.
- Fresh Start: Free reconstructive plastic surgery and related medical services for disadvantaged children.
- Insure Kids Now: A national campaign to connect the nation's uninsured children to free and low-cost health insurance.
- Miracle Flights For Kids: Provides free flights for children to specialized medical treatment centers.
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Accurate, up-to-date information about oral health, clinical trials and patient resources.
- Prescription Parents: Support groups to help families in the New England area.
- Smiles: A group of dedicated families who have a first-hand understanding of the needs of craniofacial patients.
- Shriners Hospital for Children: Children with orthopedic conditions, burns of all degrees, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive care at no charge.
- United Healthcare Children’s Foundation: Provides medical grants for eligible children. To see if you qualify, visit the website and see the grant application criteria by clicking on To Apply > Applicant.
- World Craniofacial Foundation: Helps patients gain access to medical care on a patient-by-patient basis.
Physician Resource List
The physicians listed below are some of Operation Smile's credentialed medical volunteers. They practice in the states indicated and have graciously given Operation Smile permission to be listed as resources on the U.S. Care Network. Operation Smile will continue to add more physicians to this list.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for reference only, it is NOT an endorsement of any given doctor or group.
Because of the actual size of the list, it is now conveniently provided as an Adobe Acrobat reader .PDF file you can download and save to your computer. Please click on the .PDF icon to download Operation Smile's U.S. Physician Resource List.Program History
Operation Smile began in 1982 with a single purpose: To provide surgical treatment for children and young adults suffering from facial deformities around in the world.While international medical missions were being carried out around the world, Operation Smile provided a program to take care of children in the U.S. This program was implemented in many different ways: through the public school systems, through public screenings held at hospitals, or hosted at the headquarters of Operation Smile corporate partners.
In 2003, following a thorough review of our U.S. program and an updated assessment of the multitude of organizations that advocate for children's needs in the U.S., Operation Smile has converted its U.S. program to the U.S. Care Network.
This referral system allows Operation Smile to focus its resources solely on international medical care and to continue providing free surgeries to children in 26 countries.
With the launch of the U.S. Care Network, Operation Smile now provides a broader network of resources to assist families in the U.S. with children with facial deformities.
