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{{Short description|Children's charity}}
{{About|a charity|a Seibu Railway train with the same nickname|Seibu 30000 series}}
{{About|a charity|a Seibu Railway train with the same nickname|Seibu 30000 series}}


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|leader_title = [[Chief Executive Officer]]
|leader_title = [[Chief Executive Officer]]
|leader_name = Susannah Schaefer
|leader_name = Susannah Schaefer
|website = [http://www.smiletrain.org/ www.smiletrain.org]
|website = {{url|smiletrain.org}}
}}
}}


'''Smile Train''' is a [[nonprofit]] organization and charity providing corrective surgery for children with [[cleft lip and palate|cleft lips and palates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/20131114ironman-arizona-athletes-raise-funds-smile-train-help-kids.html|title=Ironman Arizona athletes raise funds for Smile Train to help kids|author=Domenico Nicosia|publisher=AZ Central|date=15 November 2013|accessdate=6 May 2014}}</ref> Headquartered in [[New York City]] and founded in 1999, Smile Train provides free corrective cleft surgery in 87 countries,<ref name=chinadaily>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadailyasia.com/life/2013-10/24/content_15094499.html|title=Driven by smiles|author=Liu Zhihua|newspaper=China Daily|date=24 October 2013|accessdate=6 May 2014}}</ref> training local doctors and providing hospital funding for the procedures.<ref name=chinadaily/> Smile train is of business history note for the highly successful paradigm shift in its operating model from the organisation it broke from. Controversy over compensation to the Smile Train Chief Executive and founder followed; he departed and the organisation is a world leader in its field today.
'''Smile Train''' is a [[nonprofit]] organization and charity providing corrective surgery for children with [[cleft lip and palate|cleft lips and palates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/20131114ironman-arizona-athletes-raise-funds-smile-train-help-kids.html|title=Ironman Arizona athletes raise funds for Smile Train to help kids|author=Domenico Nicosia|publisher=AZ Central|date=15 November 2013|accessdate=6 May 2014}}</ref> Headquartered in [[New York City]] and founded in 1999, Smile Train provides free corrective cleft surgery in 87 countries,<ref name=chinadaily>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadailyasia.com/life/2013-10/24/content_15094499.html|title=Driven by smiles|author=Liu Zhihua|newspaper=China Daily|date=24 October 2013|accessdate=6 May 2014}}</ref> training local doctors and providing hospital funding for the procedures.<ref name=chinadaily/>


==History==
==History==
Smile Train was created in 1998 by Brian Mullaney and [[Charles Wang]], who had previously worked with [[Operation Smile]], another charity focused on correcting cleft lips and palates.<ref name=hamptonroads>{{cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2013/11/two-sides-charity-competing-compassion|title=Two sides of charity: Competing, compassion|first=Elizabeth|last=Simpson|website=The Virginian-Pilot|date=17 November 2013|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> They felt the most efficient way to provide cleft surgery was to train and support local doctors rather than to fly in Western doctors to provide surgeries in poor, developing countries.<ref name=hamptonroads/><ref name=nytimes>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/magazine/09WWLN-freakonomics-t.html|title=Bottom-Line Philanthropy|first1=Stephen J.|last1=Dubner|first2=Steven D.|last2=Levitt|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 March 2008|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> Local doctors would also be able to provide care year-round rather than the limited engagements of the "mission-based" model.<ref name=hamptonroads/><ref name=nytimes/> In 1999, Smile Train approached Dr. Court B. Cutting of [[New York University|New York University's]] Virtual Research Laboratory to create training videos, which could be used to train local doctors on how to perform advanced cleft surgery techniques.<ref name=nytimes2>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/health/02clef.html?pagewanted=print&_r=1&&gwh=EFE2B16F1E12C618442EFEB1631982EA&gwt=regi|title=Cleft Palate Practice, Pre-Surgery|author=Amanda Schaffer|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2 August 2005|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> The 3D models used in the videos were based on the [[X-ray computed tomography|CT scan]] of two Chinese patients.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1055/s-2005-925901 |pmc=2884744 |title=The Role of Computer Graphics in Cleft Lip and Palate Education |journal=Seminars in Plastic Surgery |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=286–93 |year=2005 |last1=Oliker |first1=Aaron |last2=Cutting |first2=Court }}</ref> Smile Train distributes the DVDs to local doctors worldwide.<ref name=nytimes/><ref name=nytimes2/> The DVDs are available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.<ref name=virtualsurgery>{{cite journal |doi=10.1109/MCG.2005.26 |pmid=15691163 |title=Virtual surgery brings back smiles |journal=IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=6–11 |year=2005 |last1=Sheppard |first1=L.M }}</ref>
Smile Train was created in 1998 by Brian Mullaney and [[Charles Wang]], who had previously worked with [[Operation Smile]], another charity focused on correcting cleft lips and palates.<ref name=hamptonroads>{{cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2013/11/two-sides-charity-competing-compassion|title=Two sides of charity: Competing, compassion|first=Elizabeth|last=Simpson|website=The Virginian-Pilot|date=17 November 2013|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> They felt the most efficient way to provide cleft surgery was to train and support local doctors rather than to fly in Western doctors to provide surgeries in poor, developing countries.<ref name=hamptonroads/><ref name=nytimes>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/magazine/09WWLN-freakonomics-t.html|title=Bottom-Line Philanthropy|first1=Stephen J.|last1=Dubner|first2=Steven D.|last2=Levitt|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 March 2008|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> Local doctors would also be able to provide care year-round rather than the limited engagements of the "mission-based" model.<ref name=hamptonroads/><ref name=nytimes/> In 1999, Smile Train approached Court B. Cutting of [[New York University|New York University's]] Virtual Research Laboratory to create training videos, which could be used to train local doctors on how to perform advanced cleft surgery techniques.<ref name=nytimes2>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/health/02clef.html?pagewanted=print&_r=1&&gwh=EFE2B16F1E12C618442EFEB1631982EA&gwt=regi|title=Cleft Palate Practice, Pre-Surgery|author=Amanda Schaffer|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2 August 2005|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> The 3D models used in the videos were based on the [[X-ray computed tomography|CT scan]] of two Chinese patients.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1055/s-2005-925901 |pmc=2884744 |title=The Role of Computer Graphics in Cleft Lip and Palate Education |journal=Seminars in Plastic Surgery |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=286–93 |year=2005 |last1=Oliker |first1=Aaron |last2=Cutting |first2=Court }}</ref> Smile Train distributes the DVDs to local doctors worldwide.<ref name=nytimes/><ref name=nytimes2/> The DVDs are available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.<ref name=virtualsurgery>{{cite journal |doi=10.1109/MCG.2005.26 |pmid=15691163 |title=Virtual surgery brings back smiles |journal=IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=6–11 |year=2005 |last1=Sheppard |first1=L.M }}</ref>


In 1999, Smile Train began providing corrective surgeries in China.<ref name=chinadaily/> The charity worked with the then-American and Chinese presidents, [[George H. W. Bush]] and [[Jiang Zemin]], in the planning of Smile Train's first operation in China.<ref name=harvardmagazine>{{cite web|url=http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/smile-trains-brian-mullaney?page=all|title=Scaling Up Charity|first=Nell Porter|last=Brown|website=[[Harvard Magazine]]|date=September–October 2009|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref>{{citation needed|reason=The Harvard Magazine source is being correctly quoted but the source is in error, as George H. W. Bush left office in January 1993. Perhaps it really meant his son George W.Bush, although the article at least seems to be talking about 1997-1998, and the younger Bush only became President in 2001. It is unclear how much this error should affect the credibility of the rest of this so-called Reliable Souurce.|date=October 2020}}
In 1999, Smile Train began providing corrective surgeries in China.<ref name=chinadaily/> The charity worked with the then-American and Chinese presidents, [[George H. W. Bush]] and [[Jiang Zemin]], in the planning of Smile Train's first operation in China.<ref name=harvardmagazine>{{cite web|url=http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/smile-trains-brian-mullaney?page=all|title=Scaling Up Charity|first=Nell Porter|last=Brown|website=[[Harvard Magazine]]|date=September–October 2009|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref>{{citation needed|reason=The Harvard Magazine source is being correctly quoted but the source is in error, as George H. W. Bush left office in January 1993. Perhaps it really meant his son George W.Bush, although the article at least seems to be talking about 1997-1998, and the younger Bush only became President in 2001. It is unclear how much this error should affect the credibility of the rest of this so-called Reliable Souurce.|date=October 2020}}


Smile Train began working in India in 2000.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.4103/0970-0358.57186 |pmid=19884676 |pmc=2825070 |title=Smile Train: The ascendancy of cleft care in India |journal=Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=S192–8 |year=2009 |last1=Singh |first1=Subodhkumar }}</ref> In 2011, [[Aishwarya Rai]], a [[Bollywood]] actress and former [[Miss World]], became Smile Train's first goodwill ambassador.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.ph/20140520225709/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/entertainment/aishwarya-gets-a-cleft-smile-for-charity/article1-721445.aspx | title=Archive.ph }}</ref>
Smile Train began working in India in 2000.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.4103/0970-0358.57186 |pmid=19884676 |pmc=2825070 |title=Smile Train: The ascendancy of cleft care in India |journal=Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=S192–8 |year=2009 |last1=Singh |first1=Subodhkumar |doi-access=free }}</ref> In 2011, [[Aishwarya Rai]], a [[Bollywood]] actress and former [[Miss World]], became Smile Train's first goodwill ambassador.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.today/20140520225709/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/entertainment/aishwarya-gets-a-cleft-smile-for-charity/article1-721445.aspx | title=Archive.ph }}</ref>
In 2006, Smile Train co-founded the Pan African Congress on Cleft Lip and Palate. The charity also funded the 2008 Pan African Anaesthesia Symposium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://training.amref.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=98:pan-african-anaesthesia-symposium&catid=52:news-events&Itemid=162|title=Pan African Anaesthesia Symposium|publisher=AMREF|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref>


==Early recognition and criticism==
==Early recognition and criticism==
In a 2008 ''[[New York Times]]'' article, economist [[Steven Levitt]] of ''[[Freakonomics]]'' fame indicated that the organization's model and its technological innovations "likely make Smile Train one of the most productive charities, dollar for deed, in the world."<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Bottom-Line Philanthropy | magazine = The New York Times Magazine | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/magazine/09WWLN-freakonomics-t.html?ref=magazine | first1=Stephen J. | last1=Dubner | first2=Steven D. | last2=Levitt | date=March 9, 2008}}</ref>
In a 2008 ''[[New York Times]]'' article, economist [[Steven Levitt]] of ''[[Freakonomics]]'' fame indicated that the organization's model and its technological innovations "likely make Smile Train one of the most productive charities, dollar for deed, in the world."<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Bottom-Line Philanthropy | magazine = The New York Times Magazine | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/magazine/09WWLN-freakonomics-t.html?ref=magazine | first1=Stephen J. | last1=Dubner | first2=Steven D. | last2=Levitt | date=March 9, 2008}}</ref>


In 2009, the documentary ''[[Smile Pinki]]'', which was sponsored by Smile Train and directed by [[Megan Mylan]], won the 2008 Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject).<ref>{{cite web | title = Nominees & Winners for the 81st Academy Awards | publisher = The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | url = http://www.oscars.org/awards/81academyawards/nominees.html}}</ref> The film shows the story of a poor girl in rural India whose life is transformed when she receives free surgery to correct her cleft lip.
In 2009, the documentary ''[[Smile Pinki]]'', which was sponsored by Smile Train and directed by [[Megan Mylan]], won the 2008 [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film|Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject)]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Nominees & Winners for the 81st Academy Awards | publisher = The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | url = http://www.oscars.org/awards/81academyawards/nominees.html}}</ref> The film shows the story of a poor girl in rural India whose life is transformed when she receives free surgery to correct her cleft lip.


They worked with the Scottish charity [[KidsOR]] to revamp 30 operating thentres in Africa. This included three in Nigeria like the example in [[Kano (city)|Kano]] where they have revamped a theatre there in the city's Armed Forces Specialist Hospital in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Smile Train, KidsOR donates pediatric facilities to Armed Forces Specialist Hospital Kano |url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/smile-train-kidsor-donates-pediatric-facilities-to-armed-forces-specialist-hospital-kano/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}</ref>
Smile Train worked with the Scottish charity [[KidsOR]] to revamp 30 operating theatres in Africa. This encompassed three in Nigeria, including in [[Kano (city)|Kano]], revamping an operating theatre there in the city's Armed Forces Specialist Hospital in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Smile Train, KidsOR donates pediatric facilities to Armed Forces Specialist Hospital Kano |url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/smile-train-kidsor-donates-pediatric-facilities-to-armed-forces-specialist-hospital-kano/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}</ref>


In 2008, [[Charity Watch]] criticized then-president Brian Mullaney's $420,209 salary and questioned the 2007 company's tax form, which said Mullaney's salary came from temporary restricted funds designed to go toward overhead.<ref>http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/smiletrain.html{{full citation needed|date=June 2018}}</ref> In 2009, [[Givewell]] could not assess the impact of Smile Train's activities based on the charity's 2008 tax form and other publicly accessible information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.givewell.org/international/charities/Smile-Train|title=Smile Train|publisher=GiveWell|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref> Mullaney departed the charity in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strom |first=Stephanie |date=2011-02-24 |title=Opposition Arises to Charities’ Merger |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/business/24smile.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In 2008, [[CharityWatch]] criticized then-president Brian Mullaney's $420,209 salary and questioned the 2007 company's tax form, which said Mullaney's salary came from temporary restricted funds designed to go toward overhead.<ref>http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/smiletrain.html{{full citation needed|date=June 2018}}</ref> In 2009, [[Givewell]] could not assess the impact of Smile Train's activities based on the charity's 2008 tax form and other publicly accessible information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.givewell.org/international/charities/Smile-Train|title=Smile Train|publisher=GiveWell|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref> Mullaney departed the charity in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strom |first=Stephanie |date=2011-02-24 |title=Opposition Arises to Charities' Merger |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/business/24smile.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Smile Train today==

Smile Train is a world leading charity in its field of facilitating corrective surgery for children born with facial disfigurement through funding local training and capacity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-03 |title=15 countries where Smile Train has made a difference {{!}} Charity Today News |url=https://www.charitytoday.co.uk/15-countries-where-smile-train-has-made-a-difference/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |language=en-GB}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of cleft lip and palate organisations]]
*[[List of cleft lip and palate organisations]]
*[[List of non-governmental organizations in the People's Republic of China]]
*[[List of non-governmental organizations in the People's Republic of China]]

==External links==
* [https://www.smiletrain.org Official website]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 14:54, 7 April 2024

This article is about a charity. For a Seibu Railway train with the same nickname, see Seibu 30000 series.
Smile Train
Formation1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Type501(c)(3) nonprofit
HeadquartersNew York City, New York, United States
Susannah Schaefer
Websitesmiletrain.org

Smile Train is a nonprofit organization and charity providing corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates.[1] Headquartered in New York City and founded in 1999, Smile Train provides free corrective cleft surgery in 87 countries,[2] training local doctors and providing hospital funding for the procedures.[2]

History

[edit]

Smile Train was created in 1998 by Brian Mullaney and Charles Wang, who had previously worked with Operation Smile, another charity focused on correcting cleft lips and palates.[3] They felt the most efficient way to provide cleft surgery was to train and support local doctors rather than to fly in Western doctors to provide surgeries in poor, developing countries.[3][4] Local doctors would also be able to provide care year-round rather than the limited engagements of the "mission-based" model.[3][4] In 1999, Smile Train approached Court B. Cutting of New York University's Virtual Research Laboratory to create training videos, which could be used to train local doctors on how to perform advanced cleft surgery techniques.[5] The 3D models used in the videos were based on the CT scan of two Chinese patients.[6] Smile Train distributes the DVDs to local doctors worldwide.[4][5] The DVDs are available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.[7]

In 1999, Smile Train began providing corrective surgeries in China.[2] The charity worked with the then-American and Chinese presidents, George H. W. Bush and Jiang Zemin, in the planning of Smile Train's first operation in China.[8][citation needed]

Smile Train began working in India in 2000.[9] In 2011, Aishwarya Rai, a Bollywood actress and former Miss World, became Smile Train's first goodwill ambassador.[10]

Early recognition and criticism

[edit]

In a 2008 New York Times article, economist Steven Levitt of Freakonomics fame indicated that the organization's model and its technological innovations "likely make Smile Train one of the most productive charities, dollar for deed, in the world."[11]

In 2009, the documentary Smile Pinki, which was sponsored by Smile Train and directed by Megan Mylan, won the 2008 Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject).[12] The film shows the story of a poor girl in rural India whose life is transformed when she receives free surgery to correct her cleft lip.

Smile Train worked with the Scottish charity KidsOR to revamp 30 operating theatres in Africa. This encompassed three in Nigeria, including in Kano, revamping an operating theatre there in the city's Armed Forces Specialist Hospital in 2022.[13]

In 2008, CharityWatch criticized then-president Brian Mullaney's $420,209 salary and questioned the 2007 company's tax form, which said Mullaney's salary came from temporary restricted funds designed to go toward overhead.[14] In 2009, Givewell could not assess the impact of Smile Train's activities based on the charity's 2008 tax form and other publicly accessible information.[15] Mullaney departed the charity in 2012.[16]

See also

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Domenico Nicosia (15 November 2013). "Ironman Arizona athletes raise funds for Smile Train to help kids". AZ Central. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Liu Zhihua (24 October 2013). "Driven by smiles". China Daily. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Simpson, Elizabeth (17 November 2013). "Two sides of charity: Competing, compassion". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Dubner, Stephen J.; Levitt, Steven D. (9 March 2008). "Bottom-Line Philanthropy". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b Amanda Schaffer (2 August 2005). "Cleft Palate Practice, Pre-Surgery". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  6. ^ Oliker, Aaron; Cutting, Court (2005). "The Role of Computer Graphics in Cleft Lip and Palate Education". Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 19 (4): 286–93. doi:10.1055/s-2005-925901. PMC 2884744.
  7. ^ Sheppard, L.M (2005). "Virtual surgery brings back smiles". IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications. 25 (1): 6–11. doi:10.1109/MCG.2005.26. PMID 15691163.
  8. ^ Brown, Nell Porter (September–October 2009). "Scaling Up Charity". Harvard Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  9. ^ Singh, Subodhkumar (2009). "Smile Train: The ascendancy of cleft care in India". Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 42 (3): S192–8. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.57186. PMC 2825070. PMID 19884676.
  10. ^ "Archive.ph".
  11. ^ Dubner, Stephen J.; Levitt, Steven D. (March 9, 2008). "Bottom-Line Philanthropy". The New York Times Magazine.
  12. ^ "Nominees & Winners for the 81st Academy Awards". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
  13. ^ "Smile Train, KidsOR donates pediatric facilities to Armed Forces Specialist Hospital Kano". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  14. ^ http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/smiletrain.html[full citation needed]
  15. ^ "Smile Train". GiveWell. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  16. ^ Strom, Stephanie (2011-02-24). "Opposition Arises to Charities' Merger". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
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