Preparing Parents and Patients for Craniofacial Surgery – A Comprehensive Approach
Date/Time: Thursday, February 12th at 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET
Speaker:
Patricia Chibbaro, RN, MS, CPNP
Description: Preparing parents for their child’s surgery, especially a first surgical experience, requires clear, comprehensive education. This webinar will review the essential information families need to understand and navigate the full surgical journey, from preoperative preparation through hospitalization, surgery, recovery, and home care. The session will outline the key components of an effective preoperative education appointment and highlight how thorough preparation can reduce stress and improve families’ confidence during a challenging time. Drawing on more than 30 years of clinical experience, the presenter will share insights in what parents consistently find most helpful when supporting their child through surgery.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this activity, learners will be able to:
- Identify four components of a comprehensive preoperative teaching appointment for pediatric craniofacial surgery.
- Explain three strategies for reducing parental stress and supporting families throughout their child’s surgical experience.
- Describe three factors to consider when deciding what age an individual child should be included in preparation for craniofacial surgery.
Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of this activity, learners will be able to:
- Self-assess a gain in knowledge related to the comprehensive preoperative education for parents and patients undergoing craniofacial surgery.
- Self-assess that they will improve their performance in their clinical practice based on knowledge gained.
- Self-assess that they anticipate improved patient outcomes based on changes in their performance.
Teaching Methods: Lecture, Discussion, Case Studies, Patient Interview
Live attendees must claim credit by March 18, 2026.
Intended Learners
All healthcare professionals caring for people with cleft and craniofacial conditions, to include but not limited to:
Physicians
Dental Professionals
Speech Language Pathologists
Audiologists
Nurses (RNs, APNs, LPNs)
Dieticians
Psychologists
Social Workers
Physician Assistants
Accredited Continuing Education
ACPA is accredited by ACCME and ANCC, approved by ASHA, and recognized by ADA CERP, to provide accredited continuing education to physicians, nurses, SLPs, audiologists, and dentists.
Continuing Medical Education
The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association designates this live activity for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Nursing Continuing Professional Development
The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This live educational activity is offered for 1.00 Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) contact hour.
Continuing Dental Education
The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association designates this live activity for 1.00 continuing education credit.
Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ADA.org.
Continuing Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Education
The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology.
ASHA CE Provider Approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.
DISCLOSURES
All financial relationships have been mitigated.
Commercial Support: None
No Financial or Non-financial Relationships Declared.
Speakers:
Patricia Chibbaro, RN, MS, CPNP
Planning Committee Members:
Joli C. Chou, DMD, MD
Paul Deitrick, MD, DMD, FACS
Emily R. Gallagher, MD, MPH
Catharine B. Garland, MD
Jordan N. Halsey, MD
Elizabeth Huette, RN
Noel Jabbour, MD
Aditi Kanth, MD
Serena Kassam, DMD, MS
Heather Koehn, MD, MMHC
Sue Ann S. Lee, PhD, CCC-SLP
Margaret M. Lico, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Leanne Magee, PhD
Judy Marciel, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, PCNS, CWCN, APN (Nurse Planner)
Dianna Metzler, BS
Caitlyn Reinauer, BS
Stephen “Alex” Rottgers, MD
Jill Schechter, DDS
Sameer Shakir, MD, FACS
Amanda M. Smith, RN, BSN, CPN
Cleo J. Yi, DMD, MDS
Financial and/or Non-financial Relationships Declared with Eligible Organizations.
Planning Committee Members:
Katelyn Kotlarek, PhD, CCC-SLP – Principal Investigator for National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders; Principal Investigator of American-Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation; Principal Investigator for National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Catherine Mazzola, MD – 80% Owner of New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute
Linping Zhao, PhD – Stock Option Holder for Immersive Touch
Financial Relationship with Ineligible Company Declared; Relationship Not Topically Related to Presentation. No Non-financial Relationships Declared. All Financial Relationships Have Been Mitigated.
Planning Committee Members:
Sean P. Edwards, MD, DDS, FRCDC – Consultant for Stryker CMF
Christopher Runyan, MD, PhD – Consultant for KLS Martin
This webinar is supported by EduCleft through the Dawson Family Fund for Cleft and Craniofacial Education, Research and Innovation.
