Cleft Lip-Palate and Craniofacial Program

Overview

The Cleft Lip-Palate & Craniofacial Program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of specialists dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of children with these conditions, which can range from mild to complex. At Cleveland Clinic, a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate, as well as a craniofacial condition is specially cared for by a team of experts that includes a pediatric plastic surgeon, pediatrician, orthodontist, dentist, speech and language specialist, hearing specialist, otolaryngologist, psychologist, genetic counselor and nurse.

New treatment programs offer the latest advances in the field, including nasoalveolar molding for patients with cleft lip and palate. It is our objective to provide an environment of personal attention and collaboration while maintaining the highest level of clinical care and innovative treatments.

Interested in connecting with parents who have a child with a cleft lip-palate or craniofacial condition? Join the discussion by becoming a member of our Facebook group.

What We Treat

Our team provides pre- and postoperative management of infants, children, and adolescents with a range of problems, such as:

• Cleft lip and palate.
• Congenital ear abnormalities.
• Congenital hand abnormalities.
• Craniosynostosis and craniofacial anomalies. 
• Facial paralysis. 
• Malocclusion.
• Pediatric microsurgery.
• Vascular anomalies and giant nevi. 

Before and After Photos

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• Patient underwent procedure to repair a midline cleft with cleft palate and nasoethmoidal encephalocele.

• Patient had wide left complete unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate repair.

• Patient underwent procedure for left unilateral complete cleft lip and cleft palate repair.

• Patient underwent procedure for bilateral complete cleft lip and cleft palate repair.

• Patient underwent correction for a left unilateral complete cleft lip and cleft palate.

• Patient underwent repair for a wide right unilateral complete cleft lip and cleft palate.

• Patient underwent procedure for a wide right unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate repair.

• Patient underwent correction for wide right complete unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate.

• Patient underwent correction left unilateral complete cleft lip.

• Patient underwent repair for bilateral asymmetric cleft lip and cleft palate.

Our Team

The Cleft Lip-Palate & Craniofacial Program brings together a team of specialists to provide comprehensive care for children with these conditions.

Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery

• Bahar Bassiri Gharb, MD, PhD
• Francis Papay, MD
• Antonio Rampazzo, MD, PhD

Advanced Practice Providers

• Megan Kelly, CNP
• Jessica Zubik, RN

Pediatric Neurosurgery

• Violette Recinos, MD

Maternal-Fetal Medicine

• Jeff Chapa, MD
• Carrie Budzar, RN-BSN

Craniofacial Orthodontics

• Ken Lawrence, DDS

Speech-Language Pathology

• Marisa Pavia, MA, CCC-SP
• Liz Prada, MS, CCC-SLP

Pediatric Behavioral Health

• Kate Eshleman, PsyD

Medical Genetics

• Allison Schreiber, MS, LGC

Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine

• John Carl, MD
• Anne Banas, CNP

Pediatric Sleep Medicine

• Vaishal Shah, MBBS, MPH

Pediatric Otolaryngology          

• Brandon Hopkins, MD

Audiology

• Allison Ziska Dirham, AuD

Pediatric Ophthalmology

• Elias Traboulsi MD, MEd
• Fatema Ghasia, MD

Pediatric Neuropsychology

• Patricia Klaas, PhD

Program Coordinator

• Marie Capadona-Hansley

Social Work

• Christine Arnica, MS

Nasoalveolar Molding

• Manish Valiathan, DDS

Appointments

Please call 216.445.2252 if you would like to make an appointment with a cleft lip-palate or craniofacial expert at Cleveland Clinic.