First Thai International Congress on Interdisciplinary Care for Cleft Lip and Palate — Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University
The Northeast region of Thailand (Issan) has one of the highest incident rates for cleft lip and palate in the world. Srinagarind Hospital of Khon Kaen University located in Thailand demonstrates its dedication in aiding children born with cleft lip and palate by organizing the First Thai International Congress on Interdisciplinary Care for Cleft Lip and Palate. With the help of an Education & Training Grant from The Smile Train, this event will be able to take place. The Congress will serve as a venue for the exchange of knowledge about cleft care between 200 medical professionals and health care administrators over the course of 3 days. Through this, community education about cleft lip and palate via programs and other materials will be developed, higher standards of cleft will be achieved nationally and internationally, and the Thai Cleft Lip-Palate and Craniofacial Association will be established.
Queen Sirikit National Institute
Queen Sirikit National Institute located in Bangkok has been involved with cleft patients for 48 years. This institution not only strives to provide quality care for their patients, but also serves as a research and training facility. A Treatment Grant was given to Queen Sirikit National Institute by The Smile Train to increase the number of indigent children receiving cleft care. Dr. Wiratt Chantharatanapiboon will oversee the project.
Dr. Wiratt Chantharatanapiboon
420/8 Rajavithi Rd
Rajatevi, Bangkok 10400
Thailand
Phone: 0-2245-7285
Fax: 0-2245-7285
Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University
The Smile Train - Khon Kaen University Cleft Program began in October, 2000. The Srinagarind Hospital at Khon Kaen University is the academic medical center for about one third of Thailand's population. Under the medical directorship of Dr. Bowornsilp Chowchuen, who is leading as Project Director, The Khon Kaen Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate Center Team has provided free cleft care to 550 indigent patients through this Partnership. This year alone, 200 more children will receive free cleft care and a second chance at life through the The Smile Train - Khon Kaen University Cleft Program.
Khon Kaen University
Bowornsilp Chowchuen, M.D., MBA, Associate Prof. &Chief
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine
123 Friendship Hwy.
Amphur Muang
Khon Kaen 40002
Thailand
Songklanagarind Hospital
Songklanagarind Hospital has been involved with cleft care for about
19 years. Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai opened a Cleft
Lip/Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies Center that provides multidisciplinary
care to patients and their families. This University receives its
funds to provide cleft treatment for indigent children from the
Sonklanagarind Hospital Foundation, and now from a Smile Train Treatment
Grant. Under the direction of Vichai Chichareon, M.D., the grant
will provide cleft lip and palate treatment for children who would
otherwise not be able to afford it.
Dr. Vichai Chichareon, Associate Professor
Div. Of Plastic Surgery / Prince of Songkla University
Hat-Yai, Songkla
Thailand
Phone: 66-74-212070
Fax: 66-74-429384
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Deformities Institute collaborated with cleft care providers in Khon Kaen Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate Center in Thailand to develop a comprehensive team approach to cleft care and management under the directorship of Dr. Jeffrey Marsh, who mentored and helped develop The Smile Train’s first partnership in Thailand. The center established a truly multi-disciplinary cleft team of young, energetic, well-trained professionals in Northeast Thailand, where over 35% of the population lives below the poverty level and the incidence of cleft lip and palate is higher than average.
Through two Smile Train Education and Training Grants to the Children’s Health Foundation, four cleft team members from Khon Kaen were able to attend the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association’s annual conference in 2000, and three members were able to attend in 2001. A Smile Train grant supported Dr. Jeffrey L. Marsh's training trip to Thailand, Singapore, and China, where he participated in cleft workshops and visited Smile Train partner sites and potential partner sites. Dr. Marsh was the Director of the Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Deformities Institute.
Kids Plastic Surgery
Smile Train has collaborated with Dr. Jeffrey Marsh and Kids Plastic Surgery to benefit programs in Bhutan, Laos and Thailand.
Dr. Marsh most recently assumed Medical Directorship of the WIcare cleft training program in Bhutan which is partially supported by a Smile Train grant. This program began in 2000 and since 2001 the Bhutanese team has been operating on clefts independent of the international support/training group. The most recent training visit to Bhutan was Oct 19-30, 2003. The next trip will be in the fall of 2004.
In December 2003, Dr. Marsh participated in the First Thai International Cleft Congress in Khon Kaen, Thailand, as lecturer and live surgery demonstrator. He then traveled with Dr. Borwornsilp, the Director of the Khon Kaen cleft program, to Vientiane, Lao PDR, where they met with Laotian doctors and NGO administrators from Handicap International to formulate a plan for the development of local cleft care in Lao independent of extra-national “missions”.
Dr. Marsh is the Medical Director of the Cleft Lip/Palate and Craniofacial Deformities Center at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Dr. Jeffrey L. Marsh
Kids Plastic Surgery
777 S. New Ballas Rd., #300E
St. Louis MO 63141
Changing Children’s Lives, Inc.
Dr. Mark H. Weinstein, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Prof of Plastic Surgery Yale University School of Medicine
Changing Children’s Lives, Inc.
136 Sherma Ave ST 407
Connecticut, 06525
USA
Phone: 203-624-0673
Fax: 203-907-4593
Songklanagarind Hospital
Dr Vichai Chichareon
Songklanagarind Hospital
Prince of Songkla University
Hatyai
Songkla
Thailand
90110
Phone: 6674455000
Fax: 6674429384
Chiangmai Hospital
Dr Krit Khwan-Ngern
Division of Plastic Surgery
Chiangmai Hospital
Chiangmai University
Chiang-Mai
Thailand
50000
Phone: 6653945532
Fax: 6653946139
Duangkaew Foundation
Dr Piyoros Preeyanont
President and Plastic Surgeon
Duangkaew Foundation
226/25 M. Pairoj
Bangna Trad Road
Bangna
Bangkok
Thailand
10260
Phone: 6628765399
Web site: www.duangkaew.org
