The Champion Program

For 40 years, Operation Smile’s global medical volunteers have worked together to champion our patients’ need for cleft care and build surgical capacity in the countries where we work.

Operation Smile’s Champion Program amplifies the work of medical leaders through the pillars of mentorship and bidirectional learning, thought leadership and advocacy. By harnessing medical leaders’ shared medical expertise and advocacy, Operation Smile will continue to change lives and strengthen health care delivery around the world.

Increasing access to cleft surgery and care means addressing the gaps in the health system that create barriers for patients in need of care. The Champion Program aims to bolster the skills of medical professionals and engage them in addressing these gaps to expand the quality of care for all.

Through the Champion Program, Operation Smile partners leading local medical professionals with international educators to provide bi-directional learning. Through educational exchanges and long-term mentorship, we aim to build local capacity by increasing the number of available medical professionals.​

• Advocacy: Operation Smile will partner with medical leaders to engage strategic hospital partners, academic institutions and governments in our advocacy for the need to increase equitable access to cleft surgery and care.
• Mentorship and bidirectional learning: Operation Smile will facilitate exchanges that accelerate the professional development of medical leaders in their country and bolster the skills of the next generation of cleft care professionals and global health leaders.

• Thought leadership: Operation Smile will unlock the insight and expertise of our medical volunteers to identify potential areas of focus required to further elevate the quality of care in the countries where we work. Their insight will inform Operation Smile’s strategic priorities and program planning.