Global Smile Foundation Newsletter Dedicated to Providing Comprehensive Cleft Care

Volume X, Issue IX September 2020

We hope that you and your families continue to be safe and well during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information on the GSF response to COVID-19 can be found on our website.

GSF and GSF-MENA are helping rehab a building in the Mar Mikhael neighborhood (see photo) less than a mile away from the site of the Beirut explosion. All seven apartments in the building were damaged with broken windows and doors. We are working with the United Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP) to return these apartments to safe and livable conditions and ensure that the families can return to their homes. Many thanks to the donors who have already contributed to this relief effort. If you are able, please support this rebuilding effort here. Thank you!

New Research Fellows Join GSF Team Our new postdoctoral research fellows, Drs. Antonio Melhem and Omar Al Abyad, started their 2-year fellowships with GSF last month. They will participate in various research projects and are also involved with our educational initiatives and outreach cleft programs. Dr. Melhem (in picture, left) completed medical school at the University of Balamand in Beirut and is interested in plastic surgery. Dr. Al Abyad (in picture, right) completed medical school at the American University of Beirut and is interested in general surgery. They join Dr. Elsa Chahine (2019-2021), who has been with GSF for the past year and will be applying for residency in Otolaryngology this month.

Less than 30 days until the Comprehensive Cleft Care Workshop!

The 3rd International Comprehensive Cleft Care Workshop (CCCW) will begin in just a few weeks on Friday, October 2. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 CCCW will be held as a webinar. . World-renowned cleft experts will present educational sessions over two weekends: October 2-4: General Sessions & Surgery October 10: Dental/Orthodontics October 11: Speech Pathology & Psychosocial All GSF mission volunteers are invited to register. Click to see the full CCCW Agenda and register.

Save the date for the 4th International CCCW in Istanbul, Turkey October 6-8, 2021

GSF Invited to Join Global Health Compendium The Virtue Foundation has invited GSF to be part of a community of changemakers in global health. This network, Data for Good, connects individuals and organizations bringing sustainable development solutions to underserved regions. The Virtue Foundation supports sustainable global change in health, education, and empowerment and has Special Consultative Status to the United Nations. GSF's commitment to advancing patient access to the highest quality of comprehensive cleft care aligns strongly with the purpose of Data for Good and we look forward to ongoing partnership.

Smile of the Month: Ezequiel

Long-time GSF volunteer Jeannie Paolilli (photo left) raised the funds to cover the expense of Ezequiel's surgery earlier this year. Ezequiel's mom sent us a picture last month so that we could see how he is doing 6 months following his cleft lip repair.

Shop With Amazon Smile to Support GSF Sign into your account at smile.amazon.com and select us as your charitable partner. Thank you!

Upcoming Missions Depending on COVID-19 Beirut, Lebanon November 11-22, 2020 San Salvador, El Salvador January 15-24, 2021 Guayaquil, Ecuador March 2-15, 2021 Visit us online: www.gsmile.org Follow Global Smile Foundation on Social Media ‌ ‌ ‌

For more information about our organization, our missions, or how to make a donation, please visit www.gsmile.org.

A healthy smile is just the beginning...