| Operation Smile is a medical volunteer | | | | education and skill development in each |
| organization founded in 1982. It is an | | | | doctor's specialty field. Since 1987, |
| international program with many other | | | | over 650 health care professionals have |
| countries participating, and Dr. David | | | | attended this program. |
| R. Broadway, a Denver plastic surgeon, | | | | In-Country Mission Programs |
| is a team member. | | | | Medical missions are conducted in |
| It was founded by another plastic | | | | twenty-five countries where local |
| surgeon, Dr. William P. Magee Jr., and | | | | Operation Smile Foundations work |
| his wife Kathleen S. Magee, who is a | | | | year-round. All funding is donated, and |
| nurse and clinical social worker. | | | | what is not needed to cover surgical |
| Operation Smile has provided facial | | | | costs is given to local clinics, to help |
| surgery for children who would otherwise | | | | them become self-sustaining. The goal is |
| have suffered through life with severe | | | | to enable them to care for their own |
| facial deformities harming both their | | | | local children, providing such services |
| health and their mental and emotional | | | | as: |
| well-being. The first such surgery was | | | | • Health consultations |
| done in the Philippines in 1982. Since | | | | • Dental consultations |
| then, over 100,000 children and young | | | | • Nutritional help |
| adults worldwide have been given this | | | | • Post-operative care |
| medical help. | | | | • Speech therapy |
| Dr. Broadway volunteers his time as part | | | | • Psychology consultations |
| of a team of dedicated, credentialed | | | | Assistance From the World Care Program |
| medical professionals. To date, there | | | | World Care is another volunteer |
| are several thousand health care | | | | organization which helps children |
| professionals trained and taking part in | | | | worldwide. It was founded in 1996 in |
| this program. | | | | Arizona, initially to help with |
| Operation Smile currently has National | | | | education. It has since branched out |
| Leadership Circles and Global Resource | | | | into other areas, one of which is health |
| Chapters in: | | | | care. World Care sponsors children and |
| • New York City | | | | young adults with particularly severe |
| • Los Angeles | | | | medical needs, enabling them to come to |
| • Hong Kong | | | | the United states for medical care. |
| • Rome | | | | Since 1985, more than 150 children have |
| • London | | | | been sponsored and Operation Smile |
| These organizations raise funds and | | | | physicians have cared for them in this |
| build awareness to help support | | | | country. |
| international programs. | | | | Operation Smile Student Associations |
| Operation Smile Credentialing | | | | Over 450 student associations have been |
| All volunteers must be credentialed by | | | | formed in the U.S. and some other |
| Operation Smile before going on any | | | | countries. Their mission is to build |
| missions. Anyone interested in becoming | | | | awareness of the urgent need in many |
| a volunteer can fill out a short form on | | | | countries for medical care not locally |
| their website, and they will mail a more | | | | available, and to raise funds for it. |
| comprehensive form. They have been | | | | They are also ways to educate young |
| looking for trained volunteers in many | | | | people on the joy of helping children in |
| fields, such as: | | | | need, and to help them develop qualities |
| • Plastic surgeons | | | | of leadership and commitment. |
| • Pediatricians | | | | Where do Donations go? |
| • Nurses | | | | These life-enhancing medical procedures |
| • Anesthesiologists | | | | are paid for entirely by donations. It |
| • Dentists | | | | costs Operation Smile about $250 per |
| • Orthodontists | | | | child to surgically correct facial |
| • Speech and Language Pathologists | | | | deformities. Including post-operative |
| Operation Smile Physicians' Training | | | | care, education of others about the |
| Program (PTP) | | | | program, and activities in the |
| Every year, the program headquarters in | | | | twenty-five participating countries for |
| Norfolk, Virginia, holds an advanced | | | | raising awareness of the program, the |
| training program for physicians from | | | | complete cost per child is about $750. |
| around the world. It provides additional | | | | |