Press Release Summary
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Smile Train India issued a press release announcing its participation in the Asian Society of Pediatric Anesthesiologists (ASPA) Conference 2026. The three‑day conference was held at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, from September 10 to September 12, 2026, and brought together pediatric anesthesia experts from India and abroad to advance knowledge, skills, and collaboration on safe anesthesia and peri‑operative care for children.
Smile Train’s involvement was represented by Dr. Faye Evans, Senior Pediatric Anesthesiologist and a member of the Smile Train Medical Advisory Board, together with Dr. Vibhavari Naik, Senior Consultant Pediatric Anesthesiologist and a member of the Smile Train Advisory Council. Both highlighted the importance of combining global expertise with local clinical experience to create adaptable solutions for diverse healthcare settings. Dr. Evans stated that the most powerful way to improve surgical safety is to provide opportunities for medical professionals to learn from each other, noting that the insights generated at ASPA can extend far beyond the conference room to benefit children and medical teams across geographies.
The release emphasized that children have distinct anesthesia needs compared with adults, citing differences in airways, physiology, and medication responses, which are especially critical in cleft care where airway, feeding, and nutritional considerations are prevalent. Consequently, anesthesiologists are integral to multidisciplinary cleft‑care teams, working closely with surgeons, nurses, and other specialists.
A core pillar of Smile Train’s approach, as described in the release, is skilling and capacity building. By supporting continuing education and training opportunities, the organization aims to strengthen local expertise so that medical teams can deliver safe, high‑quality care within their own communities. Dr. Naik emphasized that in India the opportunity lies in building strong, confident medical teams equipped to meet children’s specific needs, and that investing in skills generates a multiplier effect whereby knowledge gained by one professional strengthens entire teams, institutions, and ultimately the quality of care available to many more children.
Smile Train’s support for ASPA 2026 reflects its belief that improving child healthcare requires sustained collaboration across institutions, geographies, and medical disciplines. By linking global expertise with local knowledge and fostering the development of healthcare professionals, the organization seeks to reinforce the people and systems that enable safe, comprehensive cleft care.
For cleft‑treatment related queries or support, the release provides a toll‑free helpline number: 1800 103 8301. The press release was distributed under an arrangement with Newsvoir, with PTI noting no editorial responsibility.