Cleft 2025: Advancing Cleft Surgery and Craniofacial Care Worldwide
At Cleft 2025 in Kyoto, Smile Train and partners advanced speech therapy, craniofacial care, surgical simulators, and virtual surgery training to transform cleft treatment worldwide.
Like the Olympics or the World Cup, the marquee event in cleft care — The International Congress on Cleft Lip and Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies — is so big it only happens once every four years.
The 15th edition, also known as “Cleft 2025,” was held in Kyoto, Japan, from 20–24 October, 2025. The official theme emphasised that this is the “best time to create cleft history”.
As the Premier Supporter, Smile Train helped make that promise a reality.
A Global Stage for Cleft Surgery, Oral Health, and Craniofacial Experts
Cleft 2025 convened 1,400 of the world’s leading cleft surgeons, researchers, oral health specialists, speech therapists, and other craniofacial experts to share the latest techniques and technologies in cleft care.
Amongst the attendees were 213 Smile Train partners and medical board members representing 32 countries.
“I am deeply grateful to Smile Train for supporting my participation in Cleft 2025. The conference was exceptionally well-organised and provided valuable opportunities for learning, collaboration, and professional growth. I look forward to continuing collaboration with Smile Train to improve cleft care in Vietnam”.
— Smile Train partner surgeon, Vietnam
Our presence mattered for reasons that go far beyond statistics. Global medical conferences have historically overrepresented the voices of experts from countries with more robust and advanced healthcare infrastructure, those who have never lost electricity in the middle of a surgery or worked in a hospital without vital equipment.
At Cleft 2025, those realities — and the expertise of providers who face them every day — took centre stage.
Smile Train partners and affiliates delivered 150 presentations over the course of the congress, helping shape the global cleft care conversation with their experience and insight.
“This congress allowed us to see what is being done in the management of cleft lip and palate.... It's always wonderful to be part of Smile Train at these international events. I feel proud”.
— Smile Train partner orthodontist, Colombia
Elevating Surgical Training with High-Fidelity Simulators
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One of Smile Train’s highlights at Cleft 2025 was the debut of the new Speech Surgery Simulator from Simulare Medical, a Division of Smile Train, at an interactive workshop focused on speech-related cleft surgery and craniofacial care.
Part of Smile Train since 2020, Simulare Medical is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-fidelity, life-sized, 3D-printed cleft surgery simulators. These handmade models are proven to:
- Accelerate the learning curve in cleft surgical training in a low-stakes environment
- Reduce patient risk
- Decrease training costs
- Elevate the skills and confidence of surgeons globally
“Thanks to Smile Train’s support, this tool will accelerate training worldwide and help expand access to skilled cleft care,” said Dr Dale Podolsky, Pediatric Cleft and Craniofacial Surgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Founder of Simulare Medical, and leader of the Speech Surgery Simulator workshop.
Virtual Surgery and the Metaverse: Medical Education Without Borders
In-person training is powerful, but it will always be limited by time and geography. Smile Train partners are based in more than 75 countries, many in remote regions, and not all can attend a surgery workshop in person.
To bridge this gap, Smile Train is investing in virtual surgery and immersive medical education that can reach surgeons wherever they practise.
At Cleft 2025, a headset at our exhibition booth transported visitors into our Virtual Operating Room in the Metaverse. The device allows trainees to:
- Practice cleft surgery techniques on simulated patients anytime
- Participate in multi-user sessions, where a surgeon on one continent can directly monitor and guide the work of a colleague on another in real time
This blend of high-fidelity surgical simulators and virtual surgery experiences is transforming how cleft surgery and craniofacial training is delivered — making advanced skills more accessible than ever.
“It was an excellent opportunity to learn from diverse teams and compare approaches across centers. I'm grateful for the support and for Smile Train's commitment to education and continuous quality improvement in cleft care”.
— Smile Train partner dental provider, Brazil
Centering Cleft Community Voices
“I know there are some fantastic surgical simulators here, but before and after a real surgery, there needs to be a patient voice you are listening to. [It’s not just about] allowing the patient to talk, but allowing them to guide you and to make sure you set your expectation that you cannot do your job well unless you are listening to them”.
These are the words of Beth Angella, a cleft community advocate from the UK, at the Lived Experiences panel Smile Train hosted as part of our symposium.
At a five-day congress with dozens of sessions, this was the only one that included the voices and perspectives of cleft-affected people themselves.
As moderator Dr Alejandro Gonzalez, Smile Train’s Country Director for Mexico, said in his introduction:
“Without the voice of the patients, we cannot deliver high-quality treatment”.
In other words, Smile Train believes that sustainable cleft and craniofacial care must be guided by the real lives of people with clefts — including how surgery, speech therapy, oral health, emotional support, and other treatments impact daily life.
The panel also featured:
- Josh Flores, Smile Train Program Manager from the Philippines
- Ashim Garg, Founder of the Sirat Cleft Foundation, a cleft community-building nonprofit in India
In front of a packed auditorium of cleft professionals, they discussed how providers should set expectations with their patients, how they can better focus on people rather than just diagnoses, how to help patients decide whether to seek additional treatment or not, and much more.
The conversation was intimate, moving, and absolutely essential.
“I had cleft surgery before Smile Train came to the Philippines. My family was led to believe the journey would all be over after my first surgery. There was no discussion about what comes next — dental care, emotional support, anything. No one told us it was a lifelong journey…. It's important that everyone who deals with the cleft community sets this expectation and educates families clearly and early, so they know what to do and what to expect in every stage of care”.
— Josh Flores
“Don't just treat patients as numbers. Build communities. It is a lot easier than you think. If you facilitate conversations and dialogues on a daily level, the outcomes it can give to all of us are beyond amazing”.
— Ashim Garg
“[The most impactful takeaway from the conference was] the panel with former patients. Their insights were so powerful and inspiring! It’s so encouraging to meet and share with friends from all over the globe, with our common goals and interests”.
— Smile Train partner surgeon, Colombia
Holistic Cleft Care: Beyond the Operating Room
Smile Train champions comprehensive cleft care — a lifelong journey that can include:
- Cleft surgery
- Speech therapy
- Nutrition support
- Orthodontic care and oral health
- Mental health support
- Other specialised services that children and adults with clefts need to thrive
That spirit animates everything we do, including bringing both cutting-edge technology and the voices of cleft-affected people to the world’s leading cleft congress.
As Smile Train President and CEO Susannah Schaefer said in her remarks at a welcome reception on the first day:
“At Smile Train, we believe that history is made when collaboration and innovation come together. [Our accomplishments] represent the harmony at the heart of successful cleft care: collaboration across specialties, across borders, and across experiences”.
Yes, Smile Train and our partners accomplished a lot at Cleft 2025. But the real impact of this convening will take place far from the conference halls of Kyoto — when attendees take what they learned back home and use it to change the world one smile at a time.