Operation Smile

We are excited to announce a film produced for Operation Smile by BBC StoryWorks Works as part of the #BeyondTheCode series! Earlier this year, the BBC StoryWorks team filmed with us in Musanze, Rwanda, to capture how we are using AI technology to transform the surgical evaluation process for cleft conditions. This film highlights the life-changing impact of our work and demonstrates our commitment to advancing health equity through innovation. We are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions and driving innovations to ensure that all of our patients have access to the safe, high-quality care they deserve. A special thank you to everyone involved in this project, including Microsoft, Partnership on AI, University of Rwanda, Rwandan Ministry of Health, the Ruhengeri Hospital, and Musanze District for their support in making our work and this film possible. Watch the film and learn more about how AI is shaping the future of cleft care: https://lnkd.in/d37XXdqK #OperationSmile #ad #BeyondTheCode

Expanding access to safe, affordable surgical care is essential to advancing #healthequity. Strengthening surgical systems requires coordinated policies, sustainable financing, and a resilient health workforce.     At #WHSNewDelhi2025, Operation Smile—alongside The G4 Alliance, the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office, and Harvard Medical School's Program in Global Surgery and Social Change—will co-host a session spotlighting strategies to integrate surgical care into national health systems. This panel discussion will explore how national and global efforts can mobilize long-term investments, support the surgical workforce, and improve the delivery of essential services.     Join us for an insightful conversation on "Transformational Strategies Enhancing Access to Surgical Care" at #WHSNewDelhi2025. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eayBbMYa     #GlobalHealth #HealthForAll   

Every child deserves access to safe, high-quality surgery and healthcare, no matter where they are born. This #WorldHealthDay, we embrace the theme "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures," reaffirming our commitment to ensuring that all children receive the care they deserve. A child’s birthplace should never determine their future and we are dedicated to making healthy beginnings a reality for children and families worldwide. At Operation Smile, we are working to make this a reality by bringing essential surgery and comprehensive care closer to home, ensuring that mothers and children in under-resourced communities receive the care they need. Investing in maternal and child health is key to creating lasting change. By training and equipping local health care professionals, we help address gaps in health care access and strengthen health systems that will support families for generations. Together, we can create a world where every child has the opportunity for a healthy beginning and a hopeful future. https://lnkd.in/g5r-eiZa #OperationSmile #HealthforAll #HopefulFutures

We can’t believe that it has been over a month since we hosted our first-ever Pan-African Surgical Conference (#PASC2025) in Kigali, Rwanda! Over 500 attendees from 36 countries came together to discuss the future of surgical care across Africa.     With a projected shortage of 6 million surgical providers by 2030, it's clear that strengthening health systems across the continent requires bold, collective action.     One key takeaway? Solutions must be integrated, innovative, and collaborative. From AI and telemedicine to policy, advocacy, gender equity, and data-driven policies, the discussions focused on transforming access to care and building more resilient, locally driven health systems.    We are hopeful about the future. Through Operation 100, we are bringing high-quality surgical care closer to home, addressing barriers like distance, infrastructure, and workforce shortages. By doing so, we’re making life-changing surgery more accessible, right where it’s needed most.    The discussions across this milestone event were inspiring and solution-driven but how do we turn these conversations into action? And who needs to be at the table? Explore our key takeaways here: https://lnkd.in/empheAFF

With the World Health Organization projecting a shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030, the need for investment in training and development has never been more urgent. World Health Worker Week (#WHWWeek) is a time to recognize the vital role of local medical professionals in building strong, sustainable health systems. To address this challenge, education and training are at the heart of our approach. Through our medical education programs, Operation Smile is training and supporting health workers—ensuring they have the skills, mentorship, and resources to provide high-quality surgical and health care in their communities. By making these opportunities accessible, especially in low- and middle-income countries, we help bridge the gap where the need is the greatest, and workforce shortages are most severe Through these programs, we’re not only improving access to care but strengthening local health systems, ensuring that life-changing services remain sustainable for families in need. By investing in health workers today, we build healthier beginnings and brighter futures for tomorrow. #WHWWeek #HealthWorkersSaveLives #HealthforAll

A strong health workforce is the foundation of resilient health systems. Investing in health workers is investing in the future of health care. As we mark World Health Worker Week (#WHWWeek), we recognize the importance of ensuring that health workers have the training, resources, and mentorship needed to provide high-quality surgical and health care where it’s needed most. At Operation Smile, we collaborate with local governments, nonprofits, and global health leaders to build sustainable, cleft-competent operative teams. Through our global training programs, we equip surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other specialists with the skills to provide safe, timely care—particularly in low-resource settings. Strategic partnerships are key to closing the global gap in health workforce investment. By working together, governments, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector can strengthen health systems and improve access to essential care worldwide. Now is the time for long-term, collective action to ensure health workers can continue transforming lives for generations to come. #WHWWeek #HealthWorkersSaveLives #HealthforAll

Last week, we successfully wrapped up our 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Comprehensive Care Training in Cape Town, South Africa—an inspiring week dedicated to advancing cleft care through hands-on learning and collaboration. This program brought together 104 professionals, including 69 trainees, from across the region for immersive, hands-on training in nutrition, speech therapy, psychosocial support, oral health, and program operations—enhancing their ability to provide high-quality cleft care.       Sessions covered essential aspects of cleft care, from nutrition screening and intervention strategies to speech assessment techniques, interdisciplinary psychosocial support, and cleft-specific oral health treatments. Specialized training included breastfeeding support for infants with cleft conditions, pain management strategies, the fabrication of obturators and speech devices, and discussions on integrating cleft care into local health systems and enhancing collaboration across disciplines. Program staff also explored best practices for optimizing care during short-term surgical programs, focusing on supply planning, volunteer management, and hospital partnerships to strengthen long-term impact.     As the training concluded, each participant received a specialized toolkit to support the implementation of their new skills in hospitals and clinics. A special thank you to everyone who made this training possible—by fostering collaboration, we are building a strong network of healthcare providers committed to advancing comprehensive cleft care across Africa.    #OperationSmile #365daysofcare #Healthforall #SSACCTraining

This World Health Worker Week (#WHWWeek), we honor the dedicated health workers who form the foundation of health systems across the globe. From nurses and doctors to community health workers and lab technicians, their expertise and commitment ensure that care reaches the most vulnerable populations. At Operation Smile, we are proud to be part of the Frontline Health Workers Coalition and recognize that strengthening the health workforce is key to expanding access to safe, high-quality surgical and health care. By investing in education and training, we equip local medical professionals with the skills and resources needed to provide sustainable care closer to home. A resilient health system begins with a well-supported workforce. Let’s champion policies and investments that protect, retain, and equip health workers with the tools they need to succeed. When health workers thrive, entire communities benefit. #WHWWeek #HealthWorkersSaveLives #HealthforAll

Join us on April 8 at 2:00 PM UTC for an enlightening live Operation Smile Academy #webinar featuring Erin Ugai (Muyres), RN, BScN, MScPH, CCNE, Senior Director of Education, Training and Advocacy of Mercy Ships. In this session, titled “Building Sustainable Global Surgery Programs: Lessons from Cross-Cultural Partnerships” Erin will share insights on how collaboration, cultural understanding, and long-term capacity-building efforts contribute to the success of surgical programs worldwide. Don't miss this opportunity to explore how cross-cultural partnerships create lasting impact in global health! Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/eQXySufB Sign up for an Operation Smile Academy account to receive a certificate of attendance: https://lnkd.in/d-h6XN-j 

At Operation Smile, we’re leading with innovation to expand access to care and advance health equity. Our AI pilot tool, captured in a film produced for us by BBC StoryWorks, showcases this cutting-edge technology is transforming cleft care. Filmed in Musanze, Rwanda, this video highlights how the tool is revolutionizing the surgical evaluation process for cleft conditions, enabling providers to offer better support to families. This project is about more than technology—it’s about creating meaningful, sustainable solutions for children born with cleft conditions. By equipping providers with advanced tools, helping families navigate their child’s treatment journey, and strengthening health care systems, we’re working to ensure every child has access to the care they deserve. Watch the film to learn how we're creating brighter futures: https://lnkd.in/d37XXdqK #OperationSmile #BeyondTheCode #HealthEquity