Susannah Schaefer

Susannah Schaefer @SschaeferST

Susannah Schaefer is executive vice chair and CEO of Smile Train, an international organization focused on providing free cleft lip and/or palate surgery, and comprehensive cleft care to children in the developing world. In her role as CEO, she leads Smile Train's vision to expand access to health care and increase local capacity in countries in which Smile Train helps children.

Latest Articles

Opinion: Focus on disabilities like cleft to end malnutrition

Opinion: Focus on disabilities like cleft to end malnutrition

over 3 years ago // Inclusive development

July is Cleft Awareness Month. To build inclusive food, health, and social protection systems that leave no one behind, we must ensure that children with disabilities are represented in research, policies, and partnerships, according to this op-ed.

Opinion: How to achieve UHC? Invest more, and better

Opinion: How to achieve UHC? Invest more, and better

over 6 years ago // Produced in Partnership: Healthy Access

Millions of people’s lives are shaped by a lack of access to safe, affordable health care. Global health experts say it’s time to take action, calling on civil society to unite and urging governments to make substantial commitments to funding UHC.

Opinion: The secret to increasing global access to health care

Opinion: The secret to increasing global access to health care

about 8 years ago // Sponsored by Smile Train

Globally, it is estimated that one child is born every three minutes with a cleft lip and/or palate — with 94 percent of these congenital anomalies occurring in low- and middle-income countries where surgical care isn’t always available. Smile Train's Susannah Schaefer explains the damaging effects this can have, and how the situation can be changed.