The Cleft Lip and Palate Program at Arkansas Children's Hospital incorporates a comprehensive multidisciplinary team, with each member specialized in pediatric care. An important advantage of the team approach is that the team's professionals are in direct and continuous communication about the child's care. The goal of the team is to ensure that care is provided in a coordinated, consistent manner with the proper sequencing of evaluations and treatments within the framework of the child's overall developmental, medical and psychological needs.
Each team member is fully aware of the child's specific needs and progress and is able to make recommendations for care which are consistent with those given by other team members. The Cleft Lip and Palate Team at ACH is fully accredited by the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) and is one of many programs at ACH which provide high quality, individual service to children with special health care needs. Since 1978, almost all children born in Arkansas with cleft lip/palate have been treated at ACH. The team was started by world-renowned pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Robert Siebert who passed down his knowledge to Dr. Larry D. Hartzell.
ENT surgeons, Dr. Hartzell and Dr. Adam Johnson not only perform the primary cleft repair and bone grafting but provide comprehensive expertise in otologic and airway issues that may arise. Dr. Johnson also directs the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Clinic ( VPI) dedicated to both cleft and non-cleft patients experiencing speech disorders.
Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Sagar Mehta is the director of the Craniofacial Team at ACH and specializes in primary cleft lip and palate surgery, alveolar bone grafting, orthognathic (jaw) surgeries, and cleft rhinoplasty.
The Regional Care Center helps families traveling from another state or country receive world-class pediatric care before, during and after your stay.
Learn more about the Regional Care CenterOur Cleft Lip & Palate team has extensive experience treating all types of clefts and related disorders.
NAM was originally developed by an ENT & Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Court Cutting, and craniofacial orthodontist, Dr. Barry Grayson at New York University (NYU) and is now available with all surgeons at Arkansas Children's. Not all babies with clefts are candidates for NAM, but for those that are, the retainer-like device can greatly help to narrow the width of the cleft, the gums and improve nasal shape.
We know the concern families must experience when a newborn is born with a cleft lip and palate condition. However, learning all you can about these conditions can help you understand your child's situation and enable you to ask your doctor about any new developments in treatment. The following links provide the latest information on these important topics:
The cleft and craniofacial teams at Arkansas Children's Hospital collaborate with Camp Aldersgate to provide a one-day camp for children living with cleft and craniofacial differences and their family members. Camp Laughter is a free annual event that occurs the 1st Saturday in August. This all-day event is for kids ages 5-18, who are in school and have a cleft or craniofacial difference. They can participate in various outdoor activities while connecting with other children just like them.
Two UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) cleft palate team members are playing an active role in humanitarian work in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with the nonprofit organization Global Smile Foundation (GSF).
Adam Johnson, M.D., Ph.D. - Otolaryngologist, Cleft Surgeon and ACH Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) Clinic Director – and Lucia Wesley, R.N., Otolaryngology Specialty Nurse and Cleft Team Coordinator, have participated in three missions over three years and have made ongoing commitments to the organization. Read more about their missions.
Children may be referred for evaluation and treatment at the cleft clinic by physicians, speech therapists, teachers, families, guardians or others concerned with their general growth and development.
To make an appointment at the cleft clinic, please contact Jo McCallie, cleft team administrative assistant, at 501-364-7546, or Sarah Valdez, cleft team coordinator, at 501-364-2184. Dr. Larry D. Hartzell, director of the cleft lip & palate program, also may be reached via e-mail at cleftteam@archildrens.org.
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