Where We Work
Global effort, local impact. Discover where Operation Smile teams are providing care and building equal access to quality health care.
Our Global Impact
We currently provide world-class cleft care in 37 countries supported by more than 6,000 volunteers from 60 countries and have a presence in more than 40 countries.
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.
Russia
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in Russia was held in 1993.
30
Credentialed Volunteers
China
Operation Smile’s first surgical program in China was held in 1991.
27,000+
Patients Treated
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
Providing Patient Care
We provide direct patient care through short-term surgical and nonsurgical programs, comprehensive care centers and hospital partnerships. We work with local community leaders to create solutions that deliver the highest quality of care possible.
Short-Term Programs
Over the years, we’ve perfected the surgical program model. Our dedicated patient coordinators execute country-wide awareness and recruitment campaigns in advance to advertise the services we provide. At the same time, our program coordinators handle the logistics required to secure the supplies and the space need to host our patients, their families and our volunteers. The program itself lasts less than two weeks.
Year-Round Centers of Care
Our patients’ need for care doesn’t stop when a short-term surgical program ends. That’s why we operate 33 care centers in 18 countries that provide year-round solutions for those who require more complex treatment than a single program can provide. At these centers, patients receive free services including dentistry, orthodontics, speech therapy, nutritional counseling, psychosocial care, and cleft and orthognathic surgeries from our dedicated staff and volunteers.
Hospital Partners
Operation Smile partners with nearly 200 hospitals in the countries where we work. These partnerships take a variety of forms, with some offering us space to conduct surgical interventions and operations and some providing ongoing care via surgeons or care providers who are affiliated with us. These hospital partnerships provide an ongoing avenue for care for patients with cleft conditions and facilitate increased collaboration between Operation Smile staff and volunteers and high-level health care providers in the countries where we work.
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Stories from Around the World
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Thought Leadership
Using AI to Help Create New Smiles and Rebuild Lives
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Students
Meet George from Rwanda
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Care Providers
Visit With a Surgical Volunteer in Mexico
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Care Providers
From Medical Records Volunteer to Executive Director
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Education
Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week
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Care Providers
Through a Resident’s Eyes
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Thought Leadership
Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Health Systems
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Patients
Mateo’s Journey
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Patients
Meet Isaac