Latest Blogs

Below is a list of blogs written by ACPA members and the National Office Team.

If you are interested in writing a blog, please email Alyssa Kirkman for more information.

*Disclaimer-The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association claims no responsibility for the content published by others on its web site. Published content does not imply endorsement of the organization or the content of the meetings.

ACPA Launches First Ever Virtual Discipline Forums

By Erin Mallis posted 2 days ago
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ACPA hosted its first ever virtual discipline forum last week. Don’t worry if you weren’t able to join–ACPA will be hosting virtual discipline forums again in the future. Virtual discipline forums allow ACPA members to continue the conversation on cleft and craniofacial care and provide an opportunity to continue networking with colleagues, from the comfort of their couch. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for members to stay connected­–now more than ever. Upcoming virtual discipline forums include: Mental Health Discipline Forum August 11, 2020 at 3:00 PM ET View Agenda Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery Discipline Form ...
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Adam Levy Announced as New Executive Director of American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

By Alyssa Kirkman posted 4 days ago
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. / August 4, 2020 – The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Levy as the organization’s new Executive Director. Levy succeeds Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA, CAE, who left ACPA in April 2020. “Thank you to the search committee, co-chaired by Scott A. Dailey, PhD, CCC-SLP, for leading ACPA in this process,” said Patricia A. Beals, DMD, MS, ACPA President. “ACPA’s passionate members and staff have continuously worked to create a world where people with cleft and craniofacial conditions thrive.  We are excited to have Adam bring his vision and passion to lead ACPA into the future.” Levy, ...
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ACPA Awareness Ally Spotlight

By Alexis Giannattasio posted 16 days ago
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Throughout the entire month of July, patients, families and professionals in the cleft and craniofacial community have been celebrating those born with facial differences and spreading awareness of the lifelong care journey experienced by many here in the United States. Awareness month looked a little bit different this year due to the ongoing pandemic, but that didn’t stop ACPA Awareness Allies from advancing the cause on social media. ACPA Awareness Allies took advantage of their online presence this month to share a personal message about why they choose to spread awareness. Whether they are a patient themselves or have a loved one born with a facial difference, ...
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Register for ACPA’s Latest Webinar at a 50% Discount

By ACPA posted 22 days ago
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Register today for ACPA’s webinar, 70 Year History of Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair: A Simulator Based Symposium, presented by ACPA Member Court B. Cutting, MD. This innovative session follows the progression of unilateral cleft lip repair over the past 70 years using a biophysically accurate surgical simulator. The webinar was originally accepted as a Teaching Course for ACPA's 77th Annual Meeting and is available on demand at a discounted rate. Register for the webinar. Continuing education is available through ACCME. This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver ...
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ACPA Member Spotlight: Dr. Karin Vargervik

By ACPA posted 29 days ago
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ACPA Member Karin Vargervik, DDS recently received the 2020 Humanitarian Award from the American Association of Orthodontists. The 2020 AAO Awards honor those who have made outstanding contributions and exemplified excellence in the specialty. Dr. Vargervik was also featured on AAO’s website: After completing her orthodontic education in her native Norway, Dr. Vargervik came to Harvard University on a Fulbright Scholarship. She then accepted a research appointment at the University of California at San Francisco, also teaching and providing patient care to children with craniofacial birth defects. In 2006, Dr. Vargervik began volunteering with Alliance ...
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ACPA Members Spread Awareness on Dr. Radio

By Alexis Giannattasio posted 29 days ago
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Patients, families and professionals are busy spreading cleft and craniofacial awareness across the United States in honor of National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month. On Thursday, July 16, ACPA President Patricia A. Beals, DMD, MS will join ACPA Member Patricia D. Chibbaro, RN, MS, CPNP on Dr. Radio to discuss cleft and craniofacial care and the importance of spreading awareness. Dr. Radio is a Sirius XM Radio station which broadcasts health and medical information programmed by the NYU Langone Medical Center. The channel is located on channel 110 on both the XM Satellite Radio service and on the Sirius Satellite Radio service. The episode on awareness ...
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Issue 57.7 of The Cleft Palate Craniofacial-Journal is Now Available

By Alyssa Kirkman posted 30 days ago
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The new issue of  The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal  (CPCJ) is now available. All ACPA Members receive a free subscription to  CPCJ  - just  log-in to your ACPA account  to access the online version.   Not a member and want journal access?  Join now  ($250 for 2020 National Active Membership) or  purchase an individual subscription  ($324 for print and e-access). “I smile, but Without Showing My Teeth”: The Lived Experience of Cleft, Lip, and Palate in Adults Asgjerd Litleré Moi, CCN, MSc, PhD, Harald Gjengedal, DDS, PhD, Kari Lybak, RN, MSc, Hallvard Vindenes, DDS, MD, PhD Defining Risk of Postoperative Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients With 22q11.2DS ...
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ACPA Approved Team News: Spreading Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness

By Erin Mallis posted 07-02-2020
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National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month is here. Although some celebrations look different this year due to the on going COVID-19 situation, many ACPA Approved Teams are still finding creative ways to continue caring for patients and families as they spread awareness. The ACPA Approved Team at Inova Children’s Hospital is using telehealth to stay connected with their patients and families. Team members schedule individual telehealth visits through their private practices and then meet for a team conference through Zoom for the scheduled clinic day. “We thought the community would enjoy seeing photos of our team connecting. Our families really appreciate ...
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ACPA Webinar Discount Extended Through July 31

By ACPA posted 07-02-2020
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ACPA has extended all webinar discounts through the end of July. The offer includes a discount for webinar collections (priced at $69.99 for members and $89.99 for non-members) and 50% off all registration fees for paid webinars. Continuing education is available through ACCME and ASHA. The upcoming webinars listed below are nursing continuing professional development activities approved by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. See the course descriptions for more information. Available collections include: ACPA Team Care/Care Coordination Collection ...
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SAGE Publishing Provides Resources on Healthcare and Inequality

By ACPA posted 06-19-2020
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In response to the current events in America and across the world, SAGE Publishing is sharing resources on healthcare and inequality. The collection of articles, created by publishers of The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal , is available for free. The articles are intended to support researchers in future scholarship and develop their critical work; educators as they discuss the impacts of systematic racism with students; and policymakers and advocates in their fight to make sweeping reform. The collection includes titles such as “ Racial Bias and Public Policy ,” “ The Importance of Teaching History of Inequities in Public Health Programs ,” “ Disrupting ...
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ACPA Webinar Discounts Available Until June 30

By ACPA posted 06-12-2020
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From now until the end of June, ACPA is offering a discount for webinar collections (priced at $69.99 for members and $89.99 for non-members) and 50% off all registration fees for paid webinars.  Junior Investigator webinars,  usually sessions held at ACPA’s Annual Meeting, are free for all ACPA members; non-members can purchase the sessions for $24.99. ACPA webinars offer continuing education credits through ACCME and ASHA. See the course descriptions for more information. Available collections include: ACPA Team Care/Care Coordination Collection ACPA Cleft/Craniofacial Surgery Collection ACPA Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Collection ...
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Issue 57.6 of the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal is Now Available

By Alyssa Kirkman posted 06-11-2020
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The new issue of  The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal  (CPCJ) is now available. All ACPA Members receive a free subscription to  CPCJ  - just  log-in to your ACPA account  to access the online version.   Not a member and want journal access?  Join now  ($250 for 2020 National Active Membership) or  purchase an individual subscription  ($324 for print and e-access). The SNP rs560426 Within ABCA4-ARHGAP29 Locus and the Risk of Nonsyndromic Oral Clefts Yah-Huei Wu-Chou, PhD, Kuo-Ting Philip Chen, MD, Yi-Chieh Lu, MS, Yin-Ting Lin, BS, Hsien-Fang Chang, MS, Lun-Jou Lo, MD Maternal Folic Acid Intake and Risk of Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts: A Hospital-Based ...
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ACPA Publication: Pierre Robin Sequence

By Alexis Giannattasio posted 05-28-2020
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ACPA offers information and resources about cleft and craniofacial care for patients and families. Developed by experts in the cleft and craniofacial field, ACPA publications cover a variety of topics including life stages, treatment and care, school age support and more. ACPA’s factsheet, Pierre Robin Sequence, answers common questions such as, “What health issues can be expected?”  The fact sheet provides the following answer: Pierre Robin Sequence varies from child to child. One person may have severe problems related to the jaw, tongue, and palate. Another may experience some, but not all of those issues. Also, it is possible, but uncommon, to have ...
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Register for Upcoming ACPA Webinars

By ACPA posted 05-21-2020
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From now until the end of June, ACPA is offering a discount for webinar collections (priced at $69.99 for members and $89.99 for non-members) and 50% off all registration fees for paid webinars. Junior Investigator webinars, usually sessions held at ACPA’s Annual Meeting, are free for all ACPA members; non-members can purchase the sessions for $24.99. ACPA webinars offer continuing education credits through ACCME and ASHA. See the course descriptions for more information. Available collections include: ACPA Team Care/Care Coordination Collection ACPA Cleft/Craniofacial Surgery Collection ACPA Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Collection ...
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The Commission on Approval of Teams is Looking for a Public Accreditation Representative

By Erin Mallis posted 05-15-2020
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The Commission on Approval of Teams is looking to fill the Public Accreditation Representative position on the Commission for the term July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024. This individual does not have to be an ACPA member, but must have expertise in accreditation. If you are interested in filling this position or know of anyone interested, please email Erin at erin.mallis@acpa-cpf.org  by June 1, 2020
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Issue 57.5 of The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal is Now Available

By Alyssa Kirkman posted 05-14-2020
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The new issue of  The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal  (CPCJ) is now available. All ACPA Members receive a free subscription to  CPCJ  - just  log-in to your ACPA account  to access the online version.   Not a member and want journal access?  Join now  ($250 for 2020 National Active Membership) or  purchase an individual subscription  ($324 for print and e-access). Pyriform Costal Cartilage Graft Improves Cleft-Side Alar Asymmetry in Secondary Cleft Rhinoplasty Meredith L. Grogan Moore, BS, Thu-Hoai C. Nguyen, MD, Kristopher M. Day, MD, Adam B. Weinfeld, MD Buccinator Re-Repair (Bs + Re: IVVP): A Combined Procedure to Maximize the Palate Form and Function ...
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Reminder: 2021 ACPA Board of Directors Nominations Due June 4

By Erin Mallis posted 05-14-2020
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Nominations for ACPA’s 2021 Board of Directors are due June 4, 2020 . ACPA’s Active and Life Members are eligible to vote. The ACPA Nominating Committee strives for a balance of disciplines, gender, geography, institutional, racial, ethnic and other demographics. Please keep this in mind, along with the desired board competencies, when considering your nominations. Self-nominations are welcome.  View the desired competencies/qualities .  View the list of 2020 Board Members . Board Responsibilities The Board of Directors is empowered to develop, implement and reevaluate the strategic plan of the Association; formulate organizational policy to foster growth ...
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Save the Date for ACPA’s 78th Annual Meeting

By ACPA posted 05-08-2020
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ACPA’s 78 th Annual Meeting will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, NC, April 27 – May 1, 2021. ACPA’s Annual Meeting is a general scientific meeting with over 300 presentations. The program includes general and concurrent specialty sessions, poster sessions, panel presentations, and short courses including eye openers, study sessions, and advanced courses. The meeting includes networking opportunities such as discipline forums, special interest groups, and social events. Abstract submissions for ACPA’s 78 th Annual Meeting will open soon. For more information about the meeting, visit the website or email meetings@acpa-cpf.or
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ACPA Online Learning Offers Junior Investigator Sessions and Teaching Courses

By ACPA posted 05-01-2020
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Junior Investigator webinars, usually sessions held at ACPA’s Annual Meeting, are now available through ACPA’s Online Learning. The sessions are free for ACPA members of all types; non-members can purchase the sessions for $24.99. The Junior Investigator session encourages and supports multidisciplinary research by investigators either recently graduated or currently enrolled in a training program. The presentations are evaluated, and two winners are selected to receive a monetary award. Upcoming Junior Investigator webinars include: Session #1: Wednesday June 10th at 2:00 PM ET Session #2, Wednesday June 17th at 3:00 PM ET ACPA is adapting ...
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ACPA Offers 50% Discount on Webinars

By ACPA posted 04-20-2020
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ACPA offers educational webinars to cleft and craniofacial care providers worldwide. From now until the end of June, ACPA is offering 50% off all registration fees for paid webinars – $24.99 for members and $34.99 for non-members. The discount applies to both upcoming and past webinars.  Upcoming webinars include: My Changing Face: Preparing Teens for Orthognathic Surgery Tuesday, April 21st at 4:00 PM EST ACPA Team Approval Information Session Tuesday, May 7th at 2:00 PM EST Coming Soon: Robin Sequence and Mandibular Distraction                         Tuesday, May 28th at 2:00 PM EST Register to attend a live or on-demand webinar session ...
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