International news

Visit by Dr Pramila Shakya to the Newcastle Cleft team

Dr Pramila Shakya is head of cleft surgery at the Nepal Burns and Cleft Centre in Kathmandu, Nepal. She visited Newcastle earlier this year to determine whether future collaboration between the two centres would be worthwhile. She observed theatre sessions, cleft multidisciplinary clinics, a tour of the Burns Unit and observation of plastic surgery clinics.

The visit was highly successful and plans were made for future collaboration including a visit by the Newcastle team to Nepal in early autumn 2023.

Newcastle team pictured with Dr Shakya, centre right

Egyptian CLEFT meeting

CLEFT is pleased to offer financial support to delegates so that they can attend the Egyptian Cleft meeting in 2023. This means that those who would otherwise be unable to attend , for example, those coming from countries such as Gaza, Syria, Lebanon or Yemen, will be able to be present in-person. This is an opportunity for clinicians to learn new techniques and procedures as well as to share knowledge and information with others.

Research and Project News

Following the call for research papers last year CLEFT is delighted to report that there has been a good response. The Covid pandemic brought research to a halt since clinicians were needed elsewhere during this period and the lockdowns and social distancing restrictions impacted negatively on the organisation of projects.

Some projects that were approved before the pandemic are now able to progress and recent applications include the following topics:

• Understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on early speech and language development of children born with cleft lip and palate
• Development of automatic scoring of software tool using Artificial Intelligence       
• Eye training – a first step towards an automated measure of success in cleft lip surgery
• A study on the long-term effect of the vomerine flap

We look forward to sharing the results of these projects towards the end of the year.

Birthday Fundraising

An easy way to raise money for CLEFT is to request donations in lieu of gifts when it is your birthday. You can do this either by posting your request on Facebook or by setting up a fundraising page on the CLEFT website.

Click on the button below for more information on how to set up your fundraising page

Birthday fundraiser

Host a Pub Quiz

If you’d like to raise money for CLEFT but find yourself intimidated by the amount of organisation involved then have a look at our Host a Pub Quiz.
We have devised a pack which gives all the tips and information you need to arrange a pub quiz including questions, score sheets and a poster.

Click on the button below for more information and sign up to become a Quiz Master for an evening.

 

Host a Pub Quiz for CLEFT

The Great North Run 20th September 2023

This is the second year that CLEFT has places for this iconic half marathon. It was the biggest fundraiser from our three half-marathons in 2022. We are offering students a 50% discount on the entry price so don’t delay and register! Places are limited!

You will be given tips and advice on how to reach your £250 target and registration also includes a running shirt.

Sign up to the Great North Run 2023