Beirut, Lebanon — April 2025
Global Smile Foundation (GSF) continues to advance its mission of delivering high-quality, comprehensive cleft care by investing in the future of healthcare through training, education, and sustainable partnerships. During the most recent Outreach Mission Program (OMP) in Beirut, Lebanon, GSF demonstrated its enduring commitment to capacity building with a series of educational events and sessions designed to empower local healthcare professionals.
Recognizing that long-term impact requires more than surgical interventions, GSF incorporates education as a pillar of its outreach efforts, ensuring that local providers are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to offer their patients ongoing, comprehensive cleft care.
Building Local Knowledge
Dr. Usama Hamdan, GSF President and Co-Founder, led an in-depth session on lip-taping techniques at the Lebanese University School of Dental Medicine. The talk focused on presurgical infant orthopedics, a critical component in preparing infants born with cleft lips for optimal surgical outcomes. Students and faculty had the opportunity to explore the technique’s clinical significance and ask questions about its practical application.
Meanwhile, GSF volunteer and Senior Speech and Language Pathologist at Aman Hospital, Salma Jabre, focused on early intervention by training midwives and healthcare providers from the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) on how to feed infants born with cleft conditions. This session equipped frontline providers with life-saving knowledge, offering families support during a vulnerable time and helping to prevent complications related to feeding challenges.
Engaging Future Medical Leaders
In a dynamic and interactive event, GSF Post-Doctoral Research Fellows Dr. Dana Andari and Dr. Roland Assaf hosted a trivia-style conference that offered attendees a deeper look into GSF’s mission, clinical model, and research opportunities. The event, attended by members of the Lebanese Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group (LPRSIG) and the Lebanese Pediatrics Interest Group (LPIG), highlighted the organization’s multifaceted approach to care, combining clinical excellence with academic research and community outreach.
Students and young professionals were invited to engage directly with the GSF team, ask questions, and explore how they could contribute to ongoing research initiatives in the field of cleft care.
In addition, residents and fellows specializing in plastic surgery, otolaryngology, and pediatrics from the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) and the Lebanese University Faculty of Dental Medicine participate in the one-week program in Beirut, Lebanon, to gain advanced educational exposure and hands-on experience alongside the Global Smile Foundation team.
A Holistic Model for Sustainable Impact
The Beirut OMP is just one example of how GSF’s model of comprehensive cleft care extends beyond surgery. By integrating training sessions, academic engagement, and collaborative partnerships, GSF is building a network of skilled providers dedicated to improving cleft care outcomes throughout the region.
“At Global Smile Foundation, we believe that sustainability comes from sharing knowledge and creating strong local systems of support,” said Dr. Hamdan. “Each workshop, each conversation, and each new connection brings us closer to a future where every child born with a cleft can receive the care they need — no matter where they are.”