Cleft Lip and Palate Team Earns American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Approval

The Springfield Shriners Hospital’s cleft lip and palate program has been recognized by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) as a fully-approved cleft lip and palate team. The ACPA is a nonprofit organization that verifies the quality of care provided by cleft lip and palate teams across the United States and Canada. The Springfield team, led by Plastic Surgery and Medical Director Philip Stoddard, M.D., underwent an evaluation by the ACPA and demonstrated compliance with the established standards of care. The ACPA encourages patients and families to consider approved teams first for their cleft lip and craniofacial health care needs. The Springfield clinic is approved through 2024 and is listed on the ACPA website.

“The Springfield Shriners Hospital is proud to be among the select locations in New England with demonstrated training and experience in the treatment of cleft and craniofacial conditions," said Dr. Stoddard. "For over 25 years, the cleft lip and palate program at the Springfield Shriners Hospital has been honored to care for children regardless of a family’s ability to pay, and we look forward to continuing this mission.”

The cleft lip and palate team at the Springfield Shriners Hospital includes multiple surgeons; a care coordinator; an orthodontist; a speech-language pathologist; a geneticist; an ear, nose and throat doctor; a pediatrician; a psychologist and a social worker. Comprehensive treatment consists of regular visits throughout a child’s growing years. After any infant surgeries are complete, the child may visit the cleft lip and palate team once a year or more, depending on that child’s treatment needs. Learn more about the program.