Seattle Children’s Craniofacial Center Offers Hope, Care and Cures

During the past five years, nearly 15,000 patients have received care at Seattle Children’s Craniofacial Center, the largest craniofacial center in the country with over 50 pediatric specialists working together to provide comprehensive care with the right treatments at the right time.

Seattle Children’s has the most experienced craniofacial providers in the world, including physicians known internationally for their expertise with complex cases and innovative approaches. Patients with craniofacial conditions often need more than just clinical expertise.

“We combine clinical science, basic research and patient-focused care in one center,” said Dr. Michael Cunningham, Medical Director, Craniofacial Center. “Craniofacial conditions are treated in the context of all the medical, surgical and psychological needs of the patient.”

Because of the team’s breadth and depth of experience, the Craniofacial Center treats a wide range of uncommon diseases requiring specialized care that’s not available at most centers. Of the treatments that are commonly treated by regional centers, one of the most frequent referrals is for infants with cleft lip and palate. While there are other regional providers who offer surgical treatment, Seattle Children’s encourages community providers and families to proceed carefully, because cleft lip and palate is a complex condition that requires expertise and experience to ensure the best outcome.

“We often see patients months or years after a cleft lip and palate treatment at another institution, because unfortunately the surgery was not successful and the patient experienced a poor outcome,” said Dr. Cunningham. “We have a team of outstanding providers with deep experience treating cleft lip and palate, so we hope community providers will think of us first to ensure their patients get the best possible care.”

Children with craniofacial conditions need seamless, comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team to ensure they receive the right interventions at the right time. Seattle Children's has the most experienced providers in the world and is known internationally for its expertise, rigorous assessment of outcomes and innovative approaches.

For example, the first operations performed for an infant with cleft lip and palate determine their long-term outcome. Inappropriate care or operations provided by less experienced surgeons can lead to irreversible problems with life-long implications. Rigorous audits of outcomes not only allow the specialists to determine what is working well, but also affords a platform to innovate and continually improve the care provided to patients and their families.

“We love what we do because it embodies true interdisciplinary care for thousands of children provided by expert clinicians who work together every day,” said Dr. Cunningham. “We provide hope, care and cures for our patients from before birth, throughout their childhood and as they transition to adulthood, ensuring they have rich and meaningful lives throughout.”

For more details, visit the Craniofacial Center’s Refer a Patient page.