EL PASO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL HOSTS CLEFT SYMPOSIUM DRAWING SURGEONS FROM ALL OVER THE NATION

El Paso, Texas (November 5, 2021) – Surgeons from all over the United States visited the border region for a two-day symposium focused on cleft and craniofacial conditions that have been best managed by multidisciplinary specialists to provide complex and specialized care in a coordinated team environments. El Paso employs a multidisciplinary approach, the dedicated team of specialists who works to provide a comprehensive plan of care for the long-term health of each patient has proven to be the gold standard here. In our region our team-based multidisciplinary approach has been the best way to recognize and treat the full spectrum of challenges associated with cleft and craniofacial conditions, including dental, hearing, speech and psychosocial concerns.

The symposium was hosted by El Paso Children’s Hospital, in conjunction with Texas Tech University Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine.  Spearheaded by El Paso Children’s Hospital Cranial Facial Medical Director Dr. David Yates, the conference featured nationally recognized specialists  Over a two-day period, attendees were educated on the surgical advancements when operating on children with cleft deformities and intricacies of Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM), a nonsurgical method of reshaping the gums, lip and nose prior to cleft lip and palate surgery

The Cranial and Facial Clinic is the first and only comprehensive pediatric cranial and facial program in the region that provides children with access to a multi-disciplinary team of physicians skilled in correcting facial, jaw, and skull abnormalities.  The medical team is the only Cranial and Facial team in the region to be nationally recognized by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.  Additionally, El Paso Children’s Hospital is home to one in only nine international cranial facial fellowships putting us on the map for this extremely specialized medical procedure.

“We are so proud to have been able to represent the El Paso Region by hosting the 2021 National Cleft Symposium,” stated Dr. David Yates, Medical Director of the Cranial and Facial Clinic.  “This symposium was a collaboration between Texas Tech University’s Dental School and the Cranial Facial Surgery program at El Paso Children’s Hospital and it brought together leading cleft surgeons, NAM specialists, and others who are seeking ways to improve cleft care across our country.”

“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring surgeons from all over the country to witness the incredible work that our community provides to children facing cleft challenges,” said Dr. Lizbeth Holguin, member of El Paso Children’s Hospital Multidisciplinary Cleft Team as well as NAM provider at Star Kids Pediatric Dentistry.  “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with these national physicians to assist in educational opportunities that will benefit their communities and children.”

“El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation is honored to have played a role in hosting this first of its kind symposium for our region,” said Dr. B. Abigail Tarango, Executive Director of the El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation.  “The opportunity to help support such an important symposium for our region was an incredible experience for all that attended. We are proud of the talent that we have here in the Sun City, who hosted many surgeons from across the country that learned and expanded their capacities. The Foundation will continue to highlight the importance of the cleft service line for our region.”

All attendees and speakers of the symposium were required to be fully vaccinated and symptom free prior to the start of the conference.

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About EPCH: El Paso Children’s Hospital is the only separately licensed, Joint Commission certified, pediatric hospital in El Paso solely dedicated to pediatric care.

About EPCHF: El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation (EPCHF) is the designated 501(c) (3) charitable organization for El Paso Children’s Hospital (EPCH) and Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). To learn more about the El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation, contact Taylor Moreno, 915-479-9623, taylor.moreno@elpasochildrens.org