Strengthening the Global Health Care Workforce

Operation Smile’s global medical education programs increase access to essential operative care by providing local health care professionals with accessible, place-based, competency-based and team based training programs

Talent exists everywhere, yet opportunities for training are not equally accessible. Leveling the playing field in training opportunities is particularly important in low- and middle-income countries where the disease burden is highest and workforce shortages are greatest.

In-place, competency-based training programs equip cleft care professionals with new skills, experiences and mentorships in their local settings. With ongoing support, not only will these medical professionals become proficient providers, but ultimately their education will help increase local capacity, improving access to care.

Education Is at Our Core

Operation Smile and our partners are investing in frontline health workers by building sustainable, cleft-competent operative teams. We have developed learning pathways for these five specialties.

Anesthesia

Hands–on experience coupled with training programs through global training programs developed by global experts for low resource environments create a pathway to up-skill local anesthetists in the complexities of pediatric and cleft care delivery.

Biomed

Trained professionals who maintain and operate medical equipment, including patient monitors, hospital beds and more are a crucial part of any operative team.

Nursing

We invest in nurses worldwide who provide essential cleft and pediatric care so they can advance their service to their communities and expand access to care.

Pediatrics

Training programs focus on care throughout the patients’ lifetime, including early detection, referral and screening; coordination of operative and non-operative care like nutrition, speech and psychosocial care; and counseling parents and families about nutritive and environmental factors that can reduce the occurrence of cleft in other children.

Surgical Training

Operation Smile’s surgical training pairs locally licensed surgeons with regional and international educators who provide hands-on, on-location training on cleft care delivery. Ongoing mentorship and didactics build wraparound support.

By the Numbers

Education has been a critical part of Operation Smile since our organization began in 1982. Over the last five years alone, we’ve trained thousands of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and more.

4,784

Candidates Receiving Training

48

Countries

10

Specialty Areas

Strengthening the Global Operative Workforce

Operation Smile’s place- and competency-based training programs leverage four core pillars, each of which helps break down education barriers and provide more opportunities for local caregivers.

Place-Based Training

Creating a more equitable education model by bringing training to local institutions and welcoming those who are often excluded from traditional training modules.

Competency-Based Training

This method method focuses on providing participants with the didactics, mentorship and clinical exposure they need to acquire competency in set skills. This approach is more accessible than accessing and expanding traditional and limited specialty training programs.

Team-Based Training

A team-based training program identifies a cohort within a local hospital system and trains them together — not only building a fully competent operative team but increasing comradery and efficiencies within that grouping.

Training Future Educators

After receiving specialty-specific instructions, hands-on clinical practice, dedicated mentorship and long-term development programs, Operation Smile trainees not only become proficient in their new skills, but are encouraged to continue to invest in the training of others.

Provider Spotlight: Rwanda’s First Female Plastic Surgeon

“It is important for us to stay in our country, to serve our population, because we have seen the need, and it is for us to meet that need.“
— Dr. Francoise Mukagaju, Rwandan Plastic Surgeon

Fellowships

Operation Smile is committed to educating the next generation of global health professionals.

Learn more about the fellowships we offer.

The Global Surgery Fellowship program gives young medical professionals long-term opportunities to expand and enhance their global health knowledge and expertise. The fellows are fully integrated into Operation Smile’s work and gain exposure to research, advocacy and on-ground programmatic global surgery initiatives in the low-and middle-income countries where we work.

Learn more about the Global Surgery Fellowship.

The Women in Medicine Leadership Fellowship is a part-time fellowship tailored for passionate women in the healthcare workforce in low- and middle-income countries who have demonstrated an eagerness to enter leadership roles and advance gender equality in their health care systems. Fellows complete this experience while continuing their patient care and leadership work. This fellowship aims to provide emerging women leaders in health care in their early and mid-careers with the knowledge, skills and networks necessary to drive positive change in their health care systems and advance gender equality. It provides a supportive cohort of other women, practical training on leadership skills and management tools, and mentorship. Fellows benefit from training on leadership fundamentals, communication skills, project management, research, evidence-based management, resource management and individual and organizational sustainability. This fellowship helps women advance into leadership positions through equipping them with the skills and support to help them overcome barriers.

Learn about the Women in Medicine program.

Education Where It Matters Most

Discover stories about how Operation Smile is strengthening health workforces around the globe.

Education

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Building Surgical Capacity in Rwanda
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Women in Medicine: Mentoring the Next Generation
Care Providers

Ensuring Healthier Lives: Live Event with Operation Smile’s Nutrition Council
Care Providers

From Mentee to Mentor: Q&A with Cleft Surgeon Dr. Robert Beinrauh
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Scenes From the Field: Panama MegaAHA

Strengthening the Global Health Care Workforce