Smile Train, GSK, APO collab for cleft orthodontics webinar series

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

MANILA, Philippines – Smile Train, world’s leading cleft-focused organization in collaboration with GSK Consumer Healthcare supported the 3-day comprehensive cleft care webinar series organized by the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO) in February and March this year with 518 participants from 26 countries.

According to Smile Train, the highly informative online sessions featured discussions on various stages of cleft treatment for a child born with a cleft, with particular focus on the cleft orthodontics.  Panel of speakers included oral and maxillofacial surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, pediatric dentists, orthodontists, prosthodontist, speech pathologist, and pediatrician who have many years of cleft and craniofacial experience.

Many of the speakers work or have been trained at Smile Train’s partner, the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines.  

Dr. Alvaro Figueroa, a member of Smile Train’s Global Medical Advisory Board joined the panel. He shared his extensive knowledge on orthognathic surgery and treatment protocols for cleft and craniofacial patients, with more than 40 years of experience in treating patients with complex dental problems and craniofacial anomalies.

Smile Train vice president-South East Asia, Kimmy Coseting-Flaviano said, individuals born with a cleft require various types of dental and orthodontic treatments throughout their lifetime.  The webinar series is a continued commitment to empower local medical professionals and enabling them to provide safe, quality and timely cleft care for cleft-affected individuals who depend on the organization, she added.

GSK Consumer Healthcare general manager-Southeast Asia and Taiwan Emerson Aguinaldo said, GSK Consumer Healthcare is proud to partner with Smile Train to increase awareness about clefts. They are committed to help more people born with clefts to gain access to quality healthcare and to advance cleft care across the world.

Aguinaldo bared that to date the partnership has delivered 13,500 life changing cleft surgeries, training for over 8,800 healthcare professionals, and supported 38,000 families.  In 2021, with the support of GSK Consumer Healthcare and Smile Train, the World Dental Federation (FDI) released Oral Health Guidelines for comprehensive cleft care.   

“This webinar series enables orthodontists, and other cleft professionals, not only in the Philippines but in other countries to learn more about the specialized field of cleft orthodontics, and ensure they gain the necessary skills to support cleft-affected individuals,” Dr. Janet Pandan, President of the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO) said. (Photos: Smile Train/Google Images)