, plastic surgeon in Denver, Colorado is a volunteer member of a team of dedicated, credentialed medical professionals who donate their time to a program called . To date, the number of health care professionals trained and taking part in the program is in the thousands.

What is Operation Smile?

Founded in 1982, by plastic surgeon Dr. William P. Magee Jr. and his wife Kathleen S. Magee, nurse and clinical social worker, this international program has provided facial surgery services to correct deformities in over 100,000 children and young adults around the world. Its first mission took place in the Philippines in 1982.

To date, Operation Smile has National Leadership Circles and Global Resource Chapters located in:

?New York City
?Los Angeles
?Hong Kong
?Rome
?London

These organizations raise funds and build awareness to aid in supporting international programs.

Operation Smile Physicians' Training Program (PTP) - This is an annual program that brings physicians from around the world to the program headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia for advanced training and development in their skill specialties. More than 650 professionals in the health care industry have attended the program since 1987.

Operation Smile Foundations in twenty-five medical mission countries conducts local, in-country mission programs year-round and uses the revenue from funds donated beyond surgical costs to empower local clinics to become self-sustaining and be able to take care of their own children. Many of these local programs are working toward being able to provide treatment for:

?Post-operative care
?Nutrition
?Health consultations
?Speech therapy
?Dental consultations
?Psychology consultations

World Care Program sponsors children and young adults who require more difficult surgeries than can be performed in-country to come to the United states and receive the medical care they require. Since 1985, more than 150 children have received sponsorship for this program.

Operation Smile Student Associations numbers over 450 in the United States and around the world. Its mission:

?Build awareness
?Raise funds
?Educate students on the values of volunteerism, commitment and leadership

Where do the donations go?

Operation Smile can provide a child or young adult with facial surgery to correct deformities for about $250 per child. This is a life-changing process that is funded solely by donations. The complete cost per child is $750, which funds not only the surgery and post-operative care, but it also funds raising awareness and educating others about the program.

Remaining revenue above the child's surgical needs is put towards funding the programs that help to sustain Operation Smile in the United States, as well as, the twenty-five other partner countries that are currently a part of the program.

Operation Smile was developed to help children who would otherwise suffer through life with horrible deformities that not only affect their health but their mental and emotional well-being.