About Us

Operation Smile was founded in 1982 by Dr. William (Bill) P. Magee, Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife Kathleen (Kathy), a nurse and clinical social worker, after travelling to the Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children’s cleft lips and cleft palates.

Bill and Kathy Magee, Co-Founders, at the airport in Naga, Philippines

What they found was overwhelming. In Naga City, approximately 300 families arrived hoping their children would receive surgery, but the team could only treat 40 children. As they prepared to leave, the Magees made a promise they would return to help more children. They returned and helped approximately 100 more patients. Again, hundreds more still waited.

Today, Operation Smile is a global medical charity helping to improve the health and lives of children in more than 60 countries. We’ve provided more than 326,000 children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial differences with free life-changing surgical procedures and dental care. We train doctors and local medical professionals, donate medical equipment and supplies and provide year-round medical treatments through a network of comprehensive care centres. Operation Smile Canada was established in 2011 and became a registered charity in 2012.

60+ COUNTRIES

326,000+ SURGICAL AND DENTAL PROCEDURES

Canadian Leadership

Mark Climie-Elliott

Mark Climie-Elliott, CFRE

Chief Executive Officer

Ken Wilson

Ken Wilson, MD, FRCSC

Chair of the Board

Lori Tymchyk

Lori Tymchyk

Treasurer

Jim Siti

Jim Siti

Director

This is a photo of Christine Nakamura

Christine Nakamura

Director

This is a picture of Doctor Michael Bezuhly

Michael Bezuhly, MD

Director

Dr. Vivek Panchapakesan

Vivek Panchepekesan, MD

Director

Meet The Team

Patricia Vidov

Patricia Vidov, CFRE

National Director, Community Engagement & Fundraising

Ginelle Alvaro

Ginelle Alvaro

Communications Specialist

headshot picture of Diana Church

Diana Church

National Director, Talent & Culture

headshot picture of Jack Chong

Jake Chong

Database & Donor Care Coordinator

Rita D'Amico

Rita D’Amico

Manager, Donor Relations

Leslie McCourt

Leslie McCourt

Office Manager

Ahmad Nataj

Ahmad Nataj

Accountant

Mary Grant

Mary Grant

Student Programs Specialist

headshot picture of Marta Serdoncillo

Marta Serdoncillo

Database & Donor Care Fulfilment Specialist

photo of Kristy Rousseau

Kristy Rousseau, MBA, CFRE

National Director of Philanthropy

Zak Bailey

Zak Bailey, CFRE

Director of Development

this is a photo of Sharon MacPherson

Sharon MacPherson

Senior Manager, Operations

Susan Soto

Susan Soto

Senior Manager, Program Compliance and Reporting

Headshot of Michael Gross - donor services

Michael Gross

Smile Partner Program Specialist

This is a photo of Tamar Shostakovsky

Tamar Shostakovsky

Senior Manager, Direct Response

this is a picture of Kaitlin Waters face

Kaitlin Waters

Talent & Culture Assistant

This is a picture of Julia Navarro

Julia Navarro

Donor Care Associate

This is a picture of Paul Evered

Paul Evered

Smile Concierge

A picture of Michael Williams

Michael Williams

Donor Care Associate

headshot picture of nathalie punkkinen

Nathalie Punkkinen, CFRE

Senior Giving Officer

this is a picture of Paige Melvin

Paige Melvin

Philanthropy Associate

headshot picture of Candy Keillor

Candy Keillor

Community Engagement Specialist

Operation Smile Globe

Maria Martinez

Manager, Gratitude & Stewardship

Operation Smile Globe

New Team Member

Coming Soon

Operation Smile Globe

New Team Member

Coming Soon

Operation Smile Globe

New Team Member

Coming Soon

Operation Smile Globe

New Team Member

Coming Soon

Operation Smile Globe

New Team Member

Coming Soon

Financial Overview

Program Investments FY21

  • Surgical/Medical Programs 30%
  • Local Country Programs 43%
  • Care Centres 14%
  • Training, Education & Awareness 13%

Operation Smile Canada Foundation (OSCF) is a registered Canadian charity (Registration Number 84064 3605 RR0001).  Our first fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.  We comply with all of Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) annual reporting requirements for charities.

Audited Financial statements can be requested by email to ca-supporters@operationsmile.org. All of our audited financial statements since we became a registered charity are available for viewing or downloading.

Our Impact

Impact Reports

We’re proud of our work and know you’re proud to support us. Being transparent and accountable to our donors, supporters and partners is important to us. Thank you for helping make this work possible.

Viewour online Impact Report
Downloadour most recent Impact Report
FY21 Impact Report

Smile Reports

Current, insightful, and filled with stories about the smiles you bring to the faces of patients and their families, our Smile Report partner newsletters are your window into the life-changing and life-saving work of Operation Smile.

Downloadour most recent Smile Report