Every child deserves a healthy, happy smile. Your kindness can help make that a reality.
www.educleft.org
Cleft Lip & Palate
Cleft lip and palate are the most common facial birth differences, affecting 1 in 700 newborns worldwide. Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition. These irregularities can impact eating, speaking, hearing, breathing and facial expression. Without timely care, many children—especially in underserved regions—face lifelong challenges. But with early intervention and the support of a skilled team, they can thrive—living healthy, confident, and meaningful lives.
Transforming Cleft Care Through Education
For decades, cleft care relied on short-term missions. Today, the focus has shifted to sustainable solutions—training local healthcare providers to deliver lasting care. That’s why EduCleft was created.
EduCleft serves as the educational arm for nonprofits worldwide, offering:
- High-quality virtual and on-site training
- Evidence-based Cleft and Craniofacial Education
- Global reach through strong local partnerships
With your support, we’re shaping future cleft care leaders—bringing healing and hope to children in every corner of the world.
With over 30 years of experience and global partnerships, Dr. Pedro Santiago founded EduCleft to advance cleft and craniofacial care through education, research, and innovation. He has assembled a diverse team of expert cleft care educators committed to training the next generation of specialists.
Our training will cover all key aspects of cleft and craniofacial care, including:
Well-being
Innovation
In 2021, Dr. Santiago and renowned anaplastologist Jay McClennen developed hyper-realistic cleft lip and palate simulators to enhance provider training and caregiver education. These advanced models allow for repeated practice, improving clinical skills, patient safety, and outcomes in cleft care.
Global Lectures and Workshops
EduCleft’s international faculty delivers programs across The Americas, The Caribbean, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Our educators bring cultural understanding and clinical excellence to every region—building strong foundations for cleft care where it’s needed most.
Advancing Cleft Care:
The GS-NAM Technique
Surgery alone can’t solve all the challenges of cleft lip and palate. In the 1990’s Dr. Barry Grayson and Dr. Pedro Santiago developed the Grayson-Santiago NasoAlveolar Molding (GS-NAM) Technique that gently reshapes the gums, lips, and nose before surgery.
Now used by most cleft centers worldwide, GS-NAM is supported by over 200 scientific articles. When combined with skilled surgery, it improves facial outcomes, function, and reduces the need for future operations. Dr. Santiago has practiced and taught GS-NAM for over 30 years. Through EduCleft, he leads global workshops that train local providers and raise the standard of cleft care worldwide.
In unilateral clefts, GS-NAM gently aligns the gums and reshapes the lip and nose—typically within just three months—preparing the baby for a better surgical outcome.
In bilateral clefts, GS-NAM gradually aligns the gums and reshapes both sides of the lip and nose—typically over 5 to 6 months—laying the foundation for a more successful surgery.
Our Goal
To ensure that every child born with a cleft has access to expert care—no matter where they live. We do this by training local providers, reducing health inequalities, and improving outcomes for children and families across the globe.
Be the Difference. Help Transform a Child’s Future.
Thousands of children still lack access to cleft care. Your generosity can rewrite a child’s story. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your donation is tax-deductible and supports:
- Online Courses: Expanding access to Cleft and Craniofacial Care education.
- Innovation & Research: Advancing treatment techniques
- On-Site Workshops: Training providers in underserved regions
How Your Donation Makes an Impact
Expanding access to evidence-based cleft care training for healthcare professionals worldwide.
Advancing new techniques and solutions to improve cleft and craniofacial care.
Providing hands-on learning experiences for local providers in underserved regions.
Thank You for Supporting EduCleft
To recognize your generosity, we are honored to include your name in our published list of donors—a lasting tribute to your commitment to global cleft care.
Together, we are building a future where every child receives the care they deserve.
