Operation Smile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Operation Smile is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization providing reconstructive surgery and related health care to indigent children and young adults in developing countries and the United States. It provides free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries for children in the countries in which it works, along with training for health-care professionals to improve local capacity in partner countries.
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[edit] Programs
Operation Smile coordinates more than 25 medical mission sites in 24 countries annually. In 2005, medical volunteers provided free surgeries for 8,359 children through international and local, in-country medical missions. Operation Smile’s partner countries include Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
[edit] Chapters & Foundations
Operation Smile has Global Resource Chapters that raise funds and awareness to support its programs. Mission teams are hosted by International Foundations that are responsible for all in-country mission logistics and that also raise funds and awareness throughout the year.
[edit] U.S. Care Network
Operation Smile also provides a network of resources to assist families in the U.S. with children born with facial deformities. This network is accessed through the Operation Smile Web site and includes a listing of Referral Web Sites plus a Physicians Resource List with the names of doctors available to review a case.
[edit] Education
Operation Smile provides a framework for its partner countries to come together to share knowledge, technology and skills through the use of programs customized to each country’s specific medical infrastructure. University Partnerships offer Operation Smile medical volunteers training in advanced techniques and provide opportunities including fellowships, emeritus professorships and visiting professorship programs. Education Exchange programs are also offered through partnerships with leading medical teaching institutions. The annual Operation Smile Physicians’ Training Program (PTP) brings surgeons from around the world to the United States for training in specialized surgical skills.
[edit] Student Programs
More than 450 Operation Smile Student Associations in the United States and around the world build awareness, raise funds and educate students about the values of commitment, leadership and volunteerism.
The International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC) is a big aspect of Operation Smile Student Programs. The 2006 ISLC will be held in Ireland. The 2005 ISLC was held at Weber State University in Utah, and the 2004 ISLC was held at William & Mary in Virginia.
[edit] Achievements
- In 23 years, Operation Smile's volunteers have provided free reconstructive surgery to 98,000 children and young adults in 30 countries and thousands of healthcare professionals have been trained globally.
- Operation Smile received the first Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to recognize outstanding contributions made to alleviate human suffering.
[edit] Controversy
Certain deaths of patients brought criticism on the medical practices of Operation Smile in November, 1999. At the time, Operation Smile was accused of valuing publicity and the number of surgeries over the welfare and safety of patients. [1] In response, Operation Smile immediately conducted an internal review, and four months later publicly admitted certain organizational flaws and promised to place greater emphasis on issues related to quality assurance and the standard of medicine to be practiced in the field.[2] Since that time, the organization has also established medical credential standards, helped improve medical monitoring of patients, and implemented much tighter quality and financial controls.[3]
[edit] Founders
William P. Magee Jr., D.D.S., M.D. founded Operation Smile in 1982 with his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, B.S.N., M.Ed., M.S.W.. Dr. Magee serves as the organization's Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Magee serves as the president on a full-time, volunteer basis and is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors.
[edit] References
- ^ Abelson, Reed and Rosenthal, Elizabeth, "Charges of Shoddy Practices Taint Gifts of Plastic Surgery", New York Times, 25 November 1999
- ^ Abelson, Reed, "Charity Promises Sweeping Changes After Review", New York Times, 12 April 2000
- ^ Simpson, Elizabeth, "Founder of International Medical Charity Gets Used to Role as CEO", Virginian-Pilot, 30 December 2002
