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Latest News

Latest News

South Africa
Dr. Pamela Rapiti, Women in Medicine Malawi volunteer.

Independent on Saturday (South Africa): "Women in Medicine give kids an ‘amazing smile’"

... International non-profit organisation Operation Smile assembled a specialist all-female team of more than 80 volunteers from across the world who have spent the past week in Lilongwe, helping to change the children’s lives.
South Africa
Women in Medicine Malawi 2022

Independent Online (South Africa): "SA doctors travel to Malawi to assist with cleft palate surgeries"

... Operation Smile’s Women in Medicine surgical programme brought together 82 women from across 15 countries and 12 specialties for the surgical, education and research programmes beginning in Lilongwe last Friday and running until September 17.
United States
Operation Smile student volunteer Willy Sikora

The Aspen Times (Colorado, U.S.): "... student named Colorado Cycle for Smiles ambassador"

Glenwood Springs High School freshman Willy Sikora has been named student ambassador for the upcoming Colorado Cycle for Smiles, a fundraising event Sept. 17 in Basalt for global surgical nonprofit Operation Smile. Colorado Cycle for Smiles will bring together participants from across the state to cycle 40 miles through the peaks and valleys of northern Colorado representing 40 years of Operation Smile. The event will take place on September 17 in Basalt, Colorado, and another ride will be taking place in Boulder, Colorado, on September 18.
United States
University of Florida plastic surgery resident Dr. Haley Oberhofer

The Gainesville Sun (Florida, U.S.): "UF plastic surgery resident focuses on global health as volunteer with Operation Smile"

University of Florida plastic surgery resident Dr. Haley Oberhofer for more than a decade has committed her time to help others put a smile on their face. Working as a volunteer, Oberhofer splits her time with Operation Smile, a global nonprofit that specializes in providing free cleft lip surgery and care to those in need.
United States
Jose Villegas, former Director of the Operation Smile Speakers Group, of the Philippines, who had a large facial tumor corrected through Operation Smile in Norfolk, Virginia.

WVEC (Virginia, U.S.): 'There's no limit in loving people' | Norfolk baker reminds people to smile, decades after major surgery

For years, Jose Villegas struggled with a 2-pound tumor under his chin, until he found help from the founders of Operation Smile in Virginia Beach. ... Then, one night, Jose said he watched TV and saw an organization called Operation Smile was helping children and families suffering from cleft lips and palates in the Philippines.
Philippines
Emiliano Romano, Executive Director, Operation Smile Philippines

Esquire (Philippines): "Forty Years Since Its Founding, Operation Smile Is Committed to Treating 1 Million More Kids Around the World"

There are a few things that the Philippines is known for in the medical field, but perhaps the most notable—and inspirational—might be our global commitment to treating millions of children with (cleft lip and cleft palate). In 1982, Operation Smile was founded in Naga when Dr. Bill Magee and Kathy Magee treated Operation Smile’s first patient.
United States
Anesthesiologist Judy Nguyen holds 2-year-old Juan Carlos on the first day of surgery during the Operation Smile mission at San Felipe Hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on February 20, 2017.

The Winchester Star (Virginia, U.S.): "Local anesthesiologist a frequent volunteer with Operation Smile"

WINCHESTER — Wednesday is National Nonprofit Day, a commemoration held every year on Aug. 17 to honor the services provided to communities by nonprofit agencies and the volunteers who serve them. One of those volunteers is Dr. Judy Nguyen, an anesthesiologist from Stephens City ... Nguyen frequently uses paid leave from Winchester Anesthesiologists to work with Operation Smile, a global nonprofit that serves more than 30 countries ...
South Africa
Dr. Priyanka Naidu, Operation Smile medical advisor, center, performs surgery as Rwandan colleagues assist and observe during a surgical program in Bushenge, Rwanda.

Mail & Guardian (South Africa): "Why medical research is leaving poor countries behind"

By Allyn Auslander and Priyanka Naidu. Data is power. In health care, most of that power comes from research, who is studied, and which questions we ask. Globally, the under-representation of specific populations in medical research — particularly those from low- and middle-income countries like South Africa — is driving inequities in health and holding back progress.
United States
Melany Bishop, ILC Program Associate, leads the Operation Smile “Word of Medicine” summer camp for middle school students at Global Headquarters in Virginia Beach.

WAVY: “Reck on the Road: Operation Smile Camp”

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Operation Smile hosts its first, free summer camp to share its mission of global service with students in Hampton Roads. The “World of Medicine“ camp aims to teach kids about cleft conditions, other cultures across the globe and the use of technology in the future of medicine. Students will focus on all areas of science, technology, engineering, art and medicine and be empowered to help create a better world.

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It takes as little as $240 and as few as 45 minutes to provide life-changing surgery and a bright, beautiful new smile to a waiting child.