Cleft organization Smile Train will take on the operations of Simulare Medical, a developer of cleft surgery simulators, it announces.
Simulare Medical will provide Smile Train partners with greater access to safe, high-quality training, particularly in regions with limited resources, according to a media release from Smile Train.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to train local medical professionals and ensure every cleft patient has the safest, highest quality cleft treatment, assuming control of Simulare Medical’s cleft program was a natural fit for Smile Train.
“Training tools like those offered by Simulare are critical to Smile Train, and taking on its operation will allow us to provide our partners with the highest-quality surgical training in a more efficient and cost-effective way, no matter where they are located. We are confident that this will support our continued leadership in cleft lip and palate treatment and to help as many children with cleft as possible.”
— Smile Train President & CEO Susannah Schaefer
Incorporate Into Training Programs
Smile Train will incorporate the simulators into its portfolio of training programs around the world, making cleft surgery both safer and less costly, as according to research in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, simulator training tools have been shown to improve trainee’s grasp of key concepts and shorten the learning curve.
The anatomically correct, 3D-printed simulators offer surgeons training through hyper-realistic models to help prepare them for the many nuances of properly treating cleft lip and palate.
Distribute Globally
As the world’s largest cleft organization, Smile Train also has the network to effectively get these valuable tools in the hands of surgeons and trainees globally, per the release.
“In many low-resource countries, safe, high-quality surgical training can be a challenge, particularly for specialty treatment such as cleft lip and palate.
“I look forward to leveraging this technology to offer additional training to surgeons around the world providing lifesaving treatment to those in need.”
— Dr Larry Hollier, chairman of the Smile Train Medical Advisory Board
“I am thrilled that Smile Train will be operating Simulare Medical moving forward.
“Smile Train’s partner network will ensure that the simulators have a significant impact on the training of cleft surgeons around the world.”
— Dr Dale Podolsky, an Engineer and Plastic Surgeon, and the lead developer of the simulators
As a division of Smile Train, Simulare Medical will be incorporated as a nonprofit based in Toronto, Canada, where the company currently operates and where its current team will remain in place.
Smile Train’s sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. For over 20 years, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for more than 1.5 million children globally and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve, the release notes.
[Source(s): Smile Train, PR Newswire]
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