At the North Carolina Cleft and Craniofacial Center, we understand the importance of creating a welcoming and safe environment for our patients. Patients and their families can expect a warm and approachable team of specialists to deliver personalized care from the moment we start working together. Even before you step foot in our facilities, our program coordinators guide you through the process of booking an appointment and preparing for your first visit. Throughout your treatment and follow-up care, you will interact with real people who will treat you with respect and dignity.
Where you’re a part of our family
As a parent, you want the best care for your child. We want the same — and we understand the feelings of fear and anxiety that accompany diagnosis of a craniofacial disorder. We’re here to help you understand the disorder and to provide you with the best options for treatment and care. Many of our patients start with us from birth, so we become a part of your family and are invested in your child’s quality of life beyond treatment.
And treated by a team of expert doctors
Our team specializes in the treatment, therapy, and long-term care of congenital and developmental defects in the face and skull, the craniofacial region of the body. Many of the conditions that we treat are present at birth and can be diagnosed with a physical exam. Some can even be detected during fetal development through regular ultrasounds, allowing more time to prepare and plan for treatment after birth.
The most common congenital craniofacial condition, and the one most treated by our team, is cleft lip and palate, which occurs when portions of the facial structures do not fuse together as they should during development in utero. A cleft, or gap, in the lip and/or palate is typically treated through surgery. Because this condition can also affect feeding and speech, other interventions, such as feeding tubes and speech pathology, are available before and after surgery through our team.
Symptoms of other congenital craniofacial conditions or those that appear later in child development can be diverse, so the earlier they are detected and examined by a doctor, the better the treatment outcome.
Middle Row, from left: Angie Myers; Suzanne Santomiere; Dr. Leah Chapman; Dr. Kate Lambert
Back Row, from left: Jennifer G. Brady, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC; Sarah Keizer, CCC-SLP, MA; Samuel Brown, AuD; Daniel Kirse, MD; Dr. Scott Tucker
