03 February 2022

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Operation Smile commits to expanded access

Katherine E. Pfaff

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Celebrating its 40th anniversary, nonprofit, Operation Smile, has entered into a decade-long commitment to expand access to care for 1 million patients. Care incudes cleft and other surgical procedures. The effort will mean greater investment in providing care in difficult-to-reach areas globally. 

“As we enter our organization's next decade, we are deeply focused on increasing the number of high-quality cleft surgeries, which requires strengthening local health systems,” said Dr. Bill Magee, co-founder and chief executive officer at Operation Smile. “We're committing today, to transforming lives by challenging inequities in the health system head-on to serve a million people who need care.”

Under the new commitment, the nonprofit’s focus will shift to include working across the globe with locally-based healthcare systems to increase research investment, women working in medicine, expanding innovation, education in surgery, and opportunities for youth.

 “Our experience has shown us that long-term investments in healthcare infrastructure and partnerships with local medical leaders are critical to serve children with cleft conditions, and that our work and presence in a country provides greater access to high-quality care,” said Kathy Magee, co-founder and president of Operation Smile. “Our focus will always be on cleft care, but we are also empowering our world-class medical teams fueled by 6,000 global volunteers to provide comprehensive care for patients autonomously.”

Upcoming investments include programs in Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Rwanda. 

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/operation-smile-announces-10-year-commitment-to-transform-the-lives-of-1-million-patients-globally-301463861.html