What Does Operation Smile Do?

Total employees1127
HeadquartersVirginia Beach
Founded1982

Operation Smile is an international medical non-profit organization founded in 1982. It provides free, safe, and effective reconstructive surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities in low- and middle-income countries. Through its global network of medical volunteers, Operation Smile also focuses on training local medical professionals and strengthening healthcare systems to build long-term, sustainable cleft care capacity. Their mission is driven by the belief that every child deserves access to safe surgical care and a future filled with hope.

Where Is Operation Smile's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the central hub for global operations, coordinating international medical missions, volunteer mobilization, fundraising, program development, advocacy, and administrative support for its worldwide initiatives.

Notable Features:

The facility is likely a modern office space designed to support a global non-profit's operational needs, potentially including areas for mission planning, volunteer coordination, and communication.

Work Culture:

The work culture at Operation Smile's HQ is characterized by a deep commitment to its mission, compassion, collaboration among diverse teams, and a drive to make a tangible impact on children's lives globally. Employees often share a passion for humanitarian work and global health equity.

HQ Significance:

The Virginia Beach headquarters is significant as it's the nerve center from which Operation Smile has grown into a leading global organization, impacting hundreds of thousands of lives and pioneering approaches to safe surgical care in resource-limited settings.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters operations reflect values of compassion, integrity, commitment, volunteerism, and sustainability in providing care and building local healthcare capacity.

Location:

Operation Smile conducts medical programs and supports comprehensive cleft care in over 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Globally supported functions include direct surgical interventions, training and education for local medical professionals, speech therapy, dental care, psychosocial support, research, and health systems strengthening to ensure long-term, sustainable impact.

Street Address:

3641 Faculty Boulevard

City:

Virginia Beach

State/Province:

Virginia

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Operation Smile Operate Around the World?

Manila, Philippines

Address: Unit 305-306, FSS Building II, 18 Scout Tuason St. cor. Scout Castor St., Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City (Note: This is a known program office, specific addresses can vary for field offices)

To deliver comprehensive cleft care, build local surgical capacity through training and education, and raise awareness within the Philippines and support broader efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.

Bogotá, Colombia

Address: Specific street address for the Bogotá office may vary; it's a major operational hub in Latin America. (e.g. Fundación Operación Sonrisa Colombia, Carrera 13 # 93 - 40 Oficina 307, Bogotá)

To provide access to safe surgery for children with cleft conditions in Colombia and neighboring countries, enhance local healthcare infrastructure, and conduct patient follow-up and comprehensive care.

Johannesburg, South Africa

Address: Represents a key hub for operations in Southern and sub-Saharan Africa (Specific address not readily available, but operational presence is strong).

To address the significant need for cleft care in Africa, empower local medical communities, and advocate for improved access to surgical services on the continent.

Buying Intent Signals for Operation Smile

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Operation Smile? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Operation Smile' leadership includes:

Kathleen S. Magee - Co-Founder & President
William P. Magee Jr., D.D.S., M.D. - Co-Founder & CEO Emeritus
Kristie Porcaro - Chief Strategy Officer & Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer
Desiree Berger - Chief Development Officer & Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer
Micki Coles - Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Ruben Ayala - Chief Medical Officer

Who's Investing in Operation Smile?

Operation Smile has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Johnson & Johnson
AbbVie Foundation
Stryker
Smile Train (often collaborates on programs)
Avanos Medical
Various private foundations
Individual philanthropists
Governmental aid agencies (e.g., USAID partnerships)

What Leadership Changes Has Operation Smile Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits1

In late 2023/early 2024, Operation Smile announced a leadership transition with the departure of its CEO, Susan Can, and the appointment of Kristie Porcaro and Desiree Berger as Interim Co-CEOs to guide the organization.

Departures

Susan Can, Susan Can resigned from her position as CEO.

New Appointments:

Kristie Porcaro, Kristie Porcaro appointed as Interim Co-CEO.
Desiree Berger, Desiree Berger appointed as Interim Co-CEO.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byOperation Smile?

Discover the tools Operation Smile uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Operation Smile Email Formats and Examples

Operation Smile typically uses a standard professional email format for its staff. The most common structure involves the employee's first name and last name, or first initial and last name, followed by the @operationsmile.org domain.

[first].[last]@operationsmile.org

Format

jane.doe@operationsmile.org

Example

80%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Operation Smile?

BusinessWireMay 7, 2024

Operation Smile News: Avanos and Operation Smile Partner to Improve Access to Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery Worldwide

Avanos Medical, Inc. and Operation Smile announced a renewed partnership to improve access to essential medical supplies for cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in underserved communities globally. Avanos will donate medical products valued at over $1 million annually for three years....more

PR NewswireFebruary 13, 2024

Operation Smile News: Operation Smile Appoints Interim Co-CEOs to Lead Organization

Operation Smile announced the appointment of Kristie Porcaro, Chief Strategy Officer, and Desiree Berger, Chief Development Officer, as Interim Co-Chief Executive Officers. This follows the departure of former CEO Susan Can. The organization expressed confidence in their leadership during the transition....more

Daily PressOctober 26, 2023

Operation Smile News: Operation Smile CEO Susan Can calling it quits

Susan Can, CEO of Virginia Beach-based Operation Smile, announced she would be leaving the global nonprofit at the end of the year (2023) after three years at the helm. The organization stated it would begin a search for her successor....more

Highperformr's free tools for company research

Explore Employees by Region or Country

See where a company’s workforce is located, by country or region.

View Funding Details

View past and recent funding rounds with amounts and investors.

Understand Revenue Insights

Understand company revenue estimates and financial scale.

Track Active Job Openings

Track active roles and hiring trends to spot growth signals.

Review Product and Offerings

Discover what a company offers—products, platforms, and solutions.

Get SIC or NAICS Codes

Get the company’s official SIC and NAICS classifications.

Analyze Website Traffic Trends

Analyze visitor volume, engagement, and top traffic sources.

Discover Social Profiles and Engagement

Explore LinkedIn, Twitter, and other active social profiles.

Identify Top Competitors

Identify top competitors based on similar business traits.

Research and Discover Companies with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore companies in depth — from the tech they use to recent funding, hiring trends, and buyer signals — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right accounts and enrich your CRM with verified company and contact insights, so your teams can prioritize and engage faster.

  • Track intent signals to find buyers who are actively in-market
  • Enrich contacts and companies instantly, no need to switch tools
  • Automate workflows to stay ahead of every change
  • Connect your CRM & tools for seamless data sync and activation

Thousands of companies, including Operation Smile, are just a search away.