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Recent Highlights
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Thought Leadership
Nine Inspiring Moments That Made Us Smile in 2024
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Thought Leadership
The Innovative Leader Behind Operation Smile’s Medical Oversight and Safety
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Students
Speak Up, Work Hard, Never Give Up
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Supporters
Test Your Knowledge with Our Cleft Quiz
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Students
Meet George from Rwanda
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

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.
