Training & Education
Training Programs
Based on the needs and capacities of local medical communities, we provide basic and/or advanced training to nurses, doctors, and medical students in the care of cleft patients.
Through this sustainable model we hope to empower local medical professionals to provide effective treatment after our team has departed.
THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
As with all Alliance for Smiles programs, our guiding principle is simple: collaborate, educate, and empower. Every step toward local independence is meaningful and impactful.
Established in 2025, the Alliance for Smiles Education Committee reflects the organization’s growing commitment to training and empowering local medical providers.
The Committee works collaboratively with local medical teams and communities to assess needs, identify opportunities, and develop targeted training programs. By building on existing expertise, resources, and cultural strengths, these programs support the development of comprehensive cleft care and greater local independence.
Recognizing that every community is unique, training initiatives are tailored to the specific needs, circumstances, and resources of each site. The ultimate goal is to help create self-sustaining medical teams and treatment centers capable of providing high-quality cleft care for years to come.
Virtual Education Initiative
We’re not just providing surgery—we’re building local capacity and sustainable care.
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic made traditional medical missions impossible, Alliance for Smiles launched its Virtual Education Initiative (VEI) to continue supporting and training healthcare providers around the world.
After consulting with international partners and conducting needs assessments at hospitals where AfS serves, the organization identified nursing education as a high-priority area well suited for virtual learning. Partner hospitals in Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Honduras quickly embraced the program, leading AfS to develop translated educational materials and recruit instructors fluent in local languages.
The first virtual nursing class was presented in September 2020 at Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since then, the program has expanded to include seminars and training opportunities in Guatemala, Honduras, the Congo, and Benin.
As the initiative evolved, Alliance for Smiles recognized an additional benefit: virtual education can complement in-person missions by strengthening knowledge, relationships, and collaboration before teams arrive on site. This foundation helps create more efficient, effective, and sustainable programs that continue to support local providers long after a mission has ended.
Treatment Centers
Alliance for Smiles has established six Treatment Centers that provide ongoing care for children with cleft lip and palate conditions.
While surgery is often the first step in treatment, many patients require continued care, including dentistry, orthodontics, speech therapy, and other supportive services.
Five centers are located in China—in Jiujiang, Wenzhou, Harbin, Zunyi, and Guiyang—and one is located in Lagos, Nigeria.
Our Treatment Centers help ensure children have access to the comprehensive follow-up care needed for long-term success.
Working with local healthcare providers, these centers deliver ongoing treatment using internationally recognized cleft care protocols while strengthening local medical capacity and expertise.
Alliance for Smiles relies on the support of volunteers, donors, foundations, and community partners.
Together, they help expand access to sustainable, high-quality cleft care for children and families around the world.
Help
Us Continue
Changing
lives
Your support helps provide life-changing cleft care, medical training, and sustainable healthcare partnerships around the world.