Building the Future of Craniofacial Care

Around the world, a shortage of highly trained craniofacial surgeons limits access to specialized care for thousands of children. Through its fellowship and education initiatives, WCF is helping expand the expertise, collaboration, and capacity needed to strengthen care systems and improve access to treatment worldwide.

“There are only a few hundred surgeons worldwide performing complex craniofacial surgery—and we need at least twice that number to care for all the children who need it.”
— Dr. Diego Steinberg, WCF Director of Global Medical Surgery & Operations

WCF’s fellowship program is helping change that.

By investing in advanced training, WCF is helping expand the expertise and collaboration needed to strengthen craniofacial care capacity worldwide.

This year, Dr. Luis Carlos Giovannetti Villegas and Dr. Nicolás Restrepo Salamanca are completing a one-year craniofacial fellowship through a partnership between WCF, Smile House, and Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (FUCS) in Bogotá, Colombia.

As part of WCF’s partnership with Smile House, they will also train in Italy, spending time in Monza with Dr. Fabio Mazzoleni and in Rome with WCF Medical Director Dr. Domenico Scopelliti.

Each fellow helps expand access to care by bringing specialized knowledge back to their communities and strengthening the global network of care.

Why Fellowship Matters

Training a craniofacial surgeon requires far more than learning surgical techniques.

Craniofacial care is highly specialized and deeply collaborative. Treating complex conditions often requires coordination among surgeons, anesthesiologists, orthodontists, neurosurgeons, and other medical specialists. Successful treatment depends not only on technical expertise, but also on multidisciplinary planning and teamwork.

For many surgeons around the world, access to this level of training can be difficult. Fellowship opportunities are limited, and advanced craniofacial programs are concentrated in only a handful of centers.

That is why programs like this are so important.

By training the next generation of craniofacial surgeons, WCF is helping strengthen local and regional systems of care while expanding access to specialized treatment for children and families.

The Multiplier Effect of Fellowship

The impact of fellowship extends far beyond a single surgeon.

Every surgeon who completes advanced training carries that knowledge back to the patients, hospitals, and medical teams they serve. Over the course of a career, one trained surgeon may help thousands of children while also sharing knowledge with colleagues and future trainees.

This is the multiplier effect of fellowship.

When one surgeon gains specialized expertise, the benefits reach far beyond a single operating room. Families gain access to care closer to home. Medical teams gain new knowledge and experience. Entire communities benefit from stronger local and regional capacity.

For WCF, fellowship is about more than education. It is an investment in the future of craniofacial care—helping ensure that more children have access to the specialized treatment they need, wherever they live.

Interested in Fellowship Training?

WCF fellowship opportunities are currently offered through select partner institutions and programs. At this time, the foundation does not have a formal application process. Fellows are selected from among promising young craniofacial surgeons with whom WCF and its medical partners have established professional relationships.