Chennai, September 17, 2026: Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, today announced the Cleft and Craniofacial Centre, Sree Balaji Medical College Hospital & Dr Rela Medical Centre, Chennai as the Comprehensive Cleft Care Reference Centre (CCRC) strengthening its efforts to advance access to high-quality, multidisciplinary cleft care while building clinical capacity through training, research and knowledge sharing. A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Susannah Schaefer, President & CEO Smile Train and Dr Sreenisha, Chairperson, Sree Balaji Medical College.

The move will strengthen the centre’s efforts to advance access to high-quality, multidisciplinary cleft care and build clinical capacity through training, research and knowledge sharing. By combining comprehensive patient care with capacity building, the centre aims to strengthen cleft care beyond the institution itself.

A plaque commemorating the CCRC was unveiled by Susannah Schaefer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Smile Train, in the presence of Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train, Dr J Srinisha, Chairperson, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Prof. Mohamed Rela, Chairman, Rela Hospital, and Dr. Syed Altaf Hussain, Director, The Cleft and Craniofacial Centre.

It builds on one of the earliest multidisciplinary cleft care programmes established in association with Smile Train in 2001. The centre has been functioning in the new state-of-the-art facility at Sree Balaji Medical College Hospital and Dr Rela Hospital since 2022, with a highly experienced multidisciplinary team that provides care for children with clefts from birth to the completion of growth and beyond.

The programme brings together expertise across the entire spectrum of cleft care, including plastic, maxillofacial and ENT surgery, paediatrics and paediatric anaesthesiology, orthodontics, speech and hearing, nutrition, oral health, and clinical psychology. These include top-of-the-line primary surgical procedures and protocols to optimise outcomes, including primary lip and palate repair and alveolar bone grafting, as well as secondary corrections, including revision surgeries, distraction osteogenesis, orthognathic surgery, treatment of velopharyngeal dysfunction, and cleft rhinoplasty, among others.

Through the CCRC, the clinical services will be complemented by referral, training and research capabilities, enabling the centre to support both patient care and the development of cleft care professionals. It is affiliated with Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, which in turn strengthens its role as a referral, research and resource hub for cleft care professionals from India and abroad.

In her comments, Susannah Schaefer, President & CEO, Smile Train, said, “The launch of the Comprehensive Cleft Care Reference Centre reflects our commitment to building sustainable models of care that extend beyond individual treatment. By bringing comprehensive clinical expertise together with training, research and knowledge sharing, centers such as this can strengthen the broader cleft care ecosystem. This is another important step by Smile Train towards ensuring that people with clefts have access to quality care throughout their treatment journey.”

In her comments, Dr J Srinisha said, “Being recognised as India’s largest and most comprehensive Cleft and Craniofacial Reference Centre is a significant milestone for our institution. This recognition reflects our commitment to making high-quality, multidisciplinary cleft care accessible to more patients. Through our continued collaboration with Smile Train, we aim to strengthen clinical excellence, advance research and training, and ensure that every child with a cleft has access to comprehensive care and the opportunity to lead a healthier, more confident life.”

Prof. Mohamed Rela said, “The recognition of our Cleft and Craniofacial Centre as a reference centre marks a significant step in our mission to offer comprehensive cleft care that is on par with International standards. By bringing together specialists across multiple disciplines, we aim to support as many children and adults as possible. Our partnership with Smile Train reinforces our commitment in ensuring cleft and craniofacial care reaches people irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.”

Dr Syed Altaf Hussain, Plastic Surgeon and Director, The Cleft and Craniofacial Centre, said “Every person with a cleft has a different care journey, often requiring multiple interventions and specialists at different stages of growth and development. Over the years, we have built a multidisciplinary programme that allows these specialists to work together around the patient's needs, including managing complex cleft conditions. The inauguration of the CCRC will enable us to build further on this work, strengthen referral care and expand our contribution to training, research and knowledge sharing.”