Operation Smile is a global nonprofit providing free cleft surgery and long-term care for children, and training local surgical teams, across 37 countries.
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Operation Smile, Inc. is a global nonprofit network delivering free cleft surgery and long-term care to children with cleft lip and cleft palate. Founded in 1982 by plastic surgeon William P. Magee Jr. and nurse and clinical social worker Kathleen S. Magee, the organisation grew out of a cleft surgery mission in Naga City, Philippines, where hundreds of children were treated before it was formally established. More than 600,000 patients have been treated since, with care delivered in 37 countries.
Its work combines volunteer medical programmes with comprehensive cleft care. Cleft surgery missions provide safe operations through a volunteer model that now engages more than 6,000 people. Care extends beyond the operating theatre to nutrition, dental and oral health, speech therapy and psychosocial support, complemented by research on cleft care and safe surgery outcomes.
A central strand is building sustainable local surgical capacity. Operation Smile trains local doctors, nurses and surgical teams so that safe surgery and long-term care are available closer to patients' homes, rather than depending on one-off missions. The organisation works in partnership with local governments, nonprofit organisations, hospitals and health systems, and has its origins in serving families previously turned away from treatment.
Technical domains across the network include plastic and reconstructive surgery, cleft lip and palate surgery, nutrition, dental and oral health, speech therapy, psychosocial support, medical education and professional training, medical research and surgical capacity building.
