April 16, 2025 – Palm Springs, California – Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, is proud to support nine global partner medical professionals to attend The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting (ACPA), a premiere event in cleft and craniofacial education.
ACPA’s 2025 Annual Meeting will feature a robust lineup of educational talks, panels, and courses. Smile Train will lead an advocacy-focused workshop to empower cleft and craniofacial care providers with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to become effective advocates for their patients, communities, and within their healthcare systems.
Keynote speakers include Jono Lancaster, an author and public speaker known for his advocacy on self-love and resilience, and Dr. Peter Mossey, Professor of Craniofacial Development and Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Global Partnerships at the University of Dundee Dental School. Dr. Mossey also serves as a member of Smile Train’s Medical Advisory Board and Smile Train’s Research and Innovation Advisory Council.
Smile Train’s sponsorship enables cleft care providers from seven countries—Argentina, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Mexico, Peru and the Philippines—to access cutting-edge education, collaborate with experts and enhance their skills in cleft and craniofacial care. One of the attendees will also participate in ACPA’s Visiting Scholar Program through the ACPA-Smile Train Visiting Scholarship which provides medical professionals with firsthand exposure to interdisciplinary, team-based cleft and craniofacial care, equipping them with the tools to improve and expand treatment in their home countries.
“At Smile Train, we are committed to empowering local medical professionals with the knowledge and training they need to provide world-class cleft care,” said Erin Stieber, Chief Programs Strategy Officer at Smile Train. “Supporting these providers to attend ACPA’s Annual Meeting is an investment in the future of global cleft care—ensuring more children have access to high-quality treatment and a brighter future.”
ACPA’s 2025 Annual Meeting will take place from May 6–10 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California.
“We are thrilled to welcome Smile Train’s partner medical professionals to our annual meeting,” said Adam Levy, CAE, Executive Director at ACPA. “By fostering global knowledge-sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration, we are advancing cleft care worldwide. The ACPA-Smile Train partnership is truly a win for the global cleft community and medical professionals who support those born with a facial difference.”
About Smile Train: Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train’s sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.
About the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association: The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is the premier scientific resource and interdisciplinary professional network for healthcare providers serving patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, and craniofacial differences. ACPA is a 501c3 nonprofit association of individuals and healthcare professionals who are interested in clinical care and research advancements for those affected by cleft and craniofacial conditions. ACPA was founded in 1943. ACPA works to support the care of patients affected by cleft and craniofacial conditions. These patients require care from a variety of specialists over time, and ACPA optimizes outcomes for individuals with oral cleft and craniofacial conditions through education, support, research and interdisciplinary team care. For more information, please visit acpacares.org.
Media Contact: Nicole Bell | Public Relations
nbell@smiletrain.org | (646)829-0996
