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Press Release May 9, 2018

NEXT 2018: Innovations in Cleft Care and Global Surgery

Press Release May 9, 2018

NEXT 2018: Innovations in Cleft Care and Global Surgery

CONTACT: Nicole Bell, Director of Public Relations | O: 757.321.3229 | Cell: 757.708.0379 | [email protected]

Hundreds of Medical Professionals and Emerging Medical Leaders from around the World to Gather for Operation Smile’s NEXT Medical Conference: 250 participants from more than 30 countries will meet in Norfolk, Virginia to share innovative ideas and techniques to enhance and increase surgical care for children born with a facial deformity

Norfolk, Va. (May 9, 2018) – NEXT 2018: Innovations in Cleft Care and Global Surgery will take place May 9-11 at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia.  The annual event brings together medical residents and emerging medical professionals from around the world.

Nearly two dozen speakers will share on-the-ground experiences and expert opinions to provide greater insight into the patient perspective and opportunities for innovation with a focus on advancing surgical capabilities.

This year, participants will explore how to better train and educate the next generation of medical professionals with the goal of ensuring more people have access to well-timed, safe and effective surgery.

 “We want to make sure no child has to live with a correctable facial difference. And by giving optimal treatment to children with facial deformities we enhance the entire surgical infrastructure in that hospital setting. One way to help achieve this goal is to bring together the organization’s current and future medical leadership to share knowledge, skills and techniques. It is the next generation who will carry the torch and continue the movement to ensure access to surgical care for everyone around the world,” said Dr. Bill Magee, Co-Founder and CEO of Operation Smile.

During the three day event, participants will hear about innovations in nutrition to improve patient health. Some delegates will participate in an innovations competition and there will be specialty breakout sessions on quality assurance and patient mapping strategy.

NEXT recognizes the Regan Resident Leadership Program which provides senior residents in anesthesia, pediatrics and surgery (oral and maxillofacial, plastic and reconstructive) with the unique educational opportunity of attending an Operation Smile medical mission to volunteer under the mentorship of experienced physicians as their assistants. The program is named in honor of its benefactor the Regan family, who exclusively fund the program through their nonprofit Harbourton Foundation.

About Operation Smile: Operation Smile has provided hundreds of thousands of safe surgeries for those born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial conditions. 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 www.operationsmile.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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