Dr. Allyn Auslander, Associate Vice President of Research, Operation Smile This article was originally published on the International Business Times. I’ve been lucky (and privileged) enough to travel to many low- and middle-income countries for my research. The commonalities I’ve seen are comforting and inspirational — the kindness of families…

Marc Ascher, Photo Editor and Photographer, Operation Smile — Good ideas and good intentions can always be made better with a little insight. After my first Operation Smile medical mission more than 20 years ago, I was struck that the children who came to the hospital had no toys with them. The parents I know can’t drive down the…

Kendra Davenport, Chief Development Officer, Operation Smile — Much has been written about how the pandemic has changed the way we work, interact with colleagues, approach our professions and manage the new stresses it has created. No matter your profession — whether it be blue- or white-collar — chances are you are not operating the same way you…

Ernest Gaie, Senior Advisor Global Business Operations, Operation Smile — In 2015, the Lancet Global Health medical journal published a report that revealed an alarming five billion people do not have access to safe surgical care when they need it. Additionally, 17 million lives are lost every year from surgically treatable conditions. Surgery is a critical component of an effective…

By Kendra E. Davenport, Chief Development Officer, Operation Smile — Much is written about confidence possessed by successful leaders and how that self-assurance draws people to them, inspiring people to follow their lead. But there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. For women, this line is difficult to straddle and critical judgement of female leaders for being confident…

By John Streit, Managing Editor and Writer, Operation Smile — In that moment, I was surprised — but I shouldn’t have been. “Why would this man be so angry with me?” I wondered, dumbfounded and naïve. He was one of the merchants at a large public bead market in Koforidua, Ghana, where our crew set out to capture footage that…

By Kendra E. Davenport, Chief Development Officer, Operation Smile — About a year ago, I hosted did a brown bag lunch discussion with my team on the topic of thinking and acting strategically to reach your personal and professional goals. …

By Charlotte Steppling, Nutrition Program Manager, Operation Smile — Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended by healthcare professionals for at least the first 6 months following birth. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding until 2 years old because the benefits continue throughout early physical development. The perks and the power of breastfeeding are endless — not only is…

By Dr. Naikhoba Munabi, plastic surgery resident at the University of Southern California and former Global Surgery Fellow at Operation Smile — “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African proverb When asked how I’ve been able to climb the ladder of success to where I am today, my answer is always simple: I didn’t do it alone. I come from a…