Operation Smile

📢 Exciting News! Introducing Hope/Ward, Your Monthly Dose of Inspiration from Operation Smile!  We're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new newsletter, Hope/Ward! This newsletter is your direct connection to the incredible work Operation Smile is doing to bring hope and expand access to essential surgery and health care, closer to home. Hope/Ward is more than just an update; it's a collection of inspiring stories, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and the latest advancements in our mission to provide life-changing surgeries and comprehensive care. We believe the combination of hope and forward-thinking truly embodies Operation Smile's core values – inspiring action and transforming lives. Each quarter, you'll receive:  ➡️ Inspiring stories: Meet the resilient children and families whose lives have been transformed as they embrace new opportunities and brighter futures. .  ➡️ Impactful updates: Learn about our programs, partnerships, and the progress we're making in expanding access to care.  ➡️ Ways to get involved: Discover opportunities to support our mission, from volunteering to spreading awareness. Ready to join us on this journey of hope and transformation? Subscribe to Hope/Ward today! #OperationSmile #HopeWard #HealthForAll #GlobalHealth #Newsletter

This week, we kicked off our Sub-Saharan Africa Nurse Development Training in Nairobi, Kenya! From April 21–23, 54 nurses from across the region have come together for a program aimed at strengthening leadership skills in the operating room, post-anesthesia care unit, and pre- and post-operative care. The training began with opening remarks from Dr. Asaph Kinyanjui, Country Manager of Operation Smile Kenya, who emphasized the critical role of nurses as mentors and advocates and the importance of including them in national health discussions—especially in the development of national surgical plans. We were also pleased to hear from Anthony Kanyatta from Johnson & Johnson, who spoke at the training and further highlighted the importance of investing in nurses and advancing women in science. Throughout the program, participants engaged in a variety of sessions, enhancing their skills and exchanging ideas on strengthening nursing in their respective countries. From identifying challenges to presenting solutions, their insights emphasized the value of regional collaboration, the need for specialized training to ensure safe, effective care, and the essential role nurses play in improving patient outcomes and shaping resilient health systems. A heartfelt thank you to all of our participants, facilitators and everyone who made this week’s training possible. Together, we can elevate nursing leadership and build stronger, more equitable health systems across the region. #OperationSmile #HealthEquity #NursingLeadership

We’re excited to share a special edition podcast from Devex featuring our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. William P. Magee, Jr., DDS, MD, and Professor Faustin NTIRENGANYA, MD,MMED,FCS(Ecsa), FACS, PhD, of the University of Rwanda. Together, they explore the barriers to surgical care around the world—and how investing in surgical training and education can help build long-term solutions.    As Dr. Magee shares, “Just imagine how hard it is to build the surgical side of the healthcare ecosystem... You need facilities. You need equipment. And, even more importantly, you need people who are truly well trained to deliver that care.” This is especially critical in Africa, which carries 25% of the global surgical disease burden but has just 2% of the world’s surgical workforce.    From strengthening district hospitals and bringing care closer to home through our Operation 100 strategy to the momentum generated at the first-ever Pan-African Surgical Conference, this episode highlights how our work in Rwanda and the countries that we work is advancing a resilient, locally led surgical ecosystem and showcasing scalable solutions shaping the future of surgical care.     Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/ep5T-Q2q

We’re excited to announce that three of our video pieces have been nominated for the 46th Annual Telly Awards! Now, that we are in the running to take home a Telly— we need your help! Show your support by voting for Operation Smile and help us showcase how we’re transforming lives through access to safe surgical and comprehensive care. Voting is open through Friday, April 18th. We appreciate your support!  Puebla Patient Journey — https://lnkd.in/ezJsVmir   Simba and Clovis: Rwanda Surgical Residents — https://lnkd.in/eup2mjkf  MrBeast with Operation Smile in Puebla, Mexico — https://lnkd.in/eHqDgBKq     #OperationSmile #TellyAwards

At Operation Smile, we believe everyone has the power to create ripple effects. Whether you’re an educator, trainee, health worker, volunteer or advocate—every action to uplift others helps strengthen communities. A powerful example is Ángeles Luque—a dental student, volunteer, advocate and former Operation Smile patient in Peru. After receiving life-changing care as a child, she’s now part of a global network of volunteers expanding access to care and creating lasting change. At just 21, Ángeles is studying dentistry and inspiring her peers to support cleft care. Motivated by her own journey, she launched the first Operation Smile Student Club at Universidad Católica de Santa María in Arequipa to raise awareness and advocate for patients born with cleft conditions. "Our scars do not define us; what defines us is how we transform them into strengths," she shares. Her work is fueled by a desire to provide the same care she once received—going beyond surgery to include compassionate and comprehensive support for patients.  Ángeles’ story is a powerful reminder that when we invest in a child’s care, the impact extends far beyond the individual—it ripples through families, communities, and futures. Read more about her story here: https://lnkd.in/eH2Ge49k 

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 Vietnamese Ministry of Health, Operation Smile India, University of Global Health Equity, WFSA (World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists), InciSioN - International Student Surgical Network, and The G4 Alliance—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