Local pediatrician, Dr. Michael Hofmann has attended more than five Operation Smile medical missions and says volunteering with the organization is incredibly rewarding. It brings him joy and professional fulfillment to work to help so many children and work with many other remarkable volunteers. For National Volunteer Week, Operation Smile is honoring its volunteers in the United States by giving out the “Operation Smile 2020 U.S. Volunteer Award” as a “thank you” for going above and beyond for children born with cleft conditions.
“As I receive this amazing honor, I really share it with all my fellow volunteers as it is a reflection on everyone’s professionalism, friendships, cheerful nature and dedication to children born with cleft conditions,” said Hofmann.
Hofmann is one of five Operation Smile medical volunteers chosen by Operation Smile staff to receive the “Operation Smile 2020 U.S. Volunteer Award,” which is awarded to volunteers who have shown outstanding service, impeccable skill, and have gone above and beyond this year to improve the lives of our patients and quality of our programs.
“Never before, in 40 years of practicing Pediatrics, have I felt so strongly that I was part of a team of equals. Working together--without any sense of rank or status--our teams come together like sisters and brothers,” exclaimed Hofmann. “I look forward to the day when we can resume our work--side by side,” he added referring to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Operation Smile has more than 6000 volunteers worldwide who help to provide free surgery to children born with cleft conditions. Without the countless hours they donate many children would not be able to receive this life-changing surgery.
About Operation Smile: Operation Smile has provided hundreds of thousands of safe surgeries for those born with cleft lip and cleft palate. With more than three decades of expertise, Operation Smile creates solutions that deliver free surgery to people where it’s needed most. As one of the largest medical volunteer-based nonprofits, Operation Smile has mobilized thousands of medical volunteers from a wide range of medical specialties from more than 80 countries. Operation Smile engages public-private partnerships to advance health care delivery, train local medical professionals to provide surgical care for patients in their communities, donate crucial medical equipment and supplies, and increase access to surgical care so that everyone living with cleft is treated. Visit operationsmile.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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