Fundación Gantz
Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center
Pudahuel, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile
At a Glance
- Founded in 1978
- Smile Train partner since 2000
- Our local partners at the hospital have performed more than 4,000 Smile Train-sponsored cleft surgeries
History
Smile Train has been proud to partner with Fundación Gantz since 2000, supporting essential cleft care for more than 4000 patients with clefts. Now, as a Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center, Smile Train will support Fundación Gantz to expand its historical leadership role throughout South America withever-growing cleft care programs, research and education, and training opportunities, positioning it as a resource hub for patients and providers across the region. Smile Train and Fundación Gantz are excited to work together to transform cleft care in South America – and to ensure that every child with a cleft receives the care they deserve.
“All of us who are members of the Fundación Gantz are united by a true vocation for interdisciplinary work. We seek the best rehabilitation for our cleft patients and their full integration into society, at the end of their long period of treatment. As a team, we believe in the constant need for professional improvement, but at the same time we are motivated by teaching and transferring this knowledge to other professionals from emerging centers. Partnering with Smile Train for so many years has been a great honor and a critical partnership in fulfilling our vision. The recent designation as a Cleft Leadership Center makes us proud and poses a great challenge for us in the future, which we take on with great enthusiasm as partners of Smile Train.”
Dr. Carlos Giugliano V.
Medical Director
Fundación Gantz
“With extensive comprehensive cleft care programs, cutting-edge research, and a robust training program, Fundación Gantz has elevated the standard of cleft care not only for their patients, but for patients across the region. We have been proud to partner with this organization for two decades. Now, with Fundación Gantz as a Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center, we will work together to amplify these programs and invest in the long-term strength and sustainability of comprehensive cleft care across Latin America.”
Shannon M. Lambert
Vice President & Regional Director
Americas & Europe
"My first visit to Fundación Gantz was to represent Smile Train at a conference in November 2017. It was all about comprehensive cleft care – and they were not only offering this care, but they were also offering it at a standard still unknown to many cleft treatment centers in the region. I realized then that all of the partners in the region should be supported to attain this level of care.
In my role, I have been working toward achieving that goal: to encourage and support capacity building efforts so that our partners are able to provide comprehensive cleft care at the highest levels of safety and quality throughout South America – and now, with Fundación Gantz as a Smile Train Cleft Leadership Center, we will continue to work toward this goal together.”
Dianne Erquiaga
Program Director
South America
Research and Publications
Find a full list of research and publications.
Comprehensive cleft care programs programs at Fundación Gantz include:
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Maxillofacial surgery
- ENT services
- Pediatrics
- Orthodontics
- Nutrition counseling and support
- Breastfeeding support
- Speech services
- Surgical training outreach programs throughout Chile
- Telehealth for virtual patient care