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

Past Chair

This is a picture of Doctor Michael Bezuhly

Michael Bezuhly, MD

Chair of the Board

Lori Tymchyk

Lori Tymchyk

Treasurer

This is a photo of Christine Nakamura

Christine Nakamura

Director

Jim Siti

Jim Siti

Director

Dr. Vivek Panchapakesan

Vivek Panchepekesan, MD

Director

Darcy Huda

Secretary

Meet The Team

headshot picture of Diana Church

Diana Church

VP, Talent & Culture

photo of Kristy Rousseau

Kristy Rousseau, MBA, CFRE

VP, Philanthropy

Annabelle Rocha

Annabelle Rocha

VP, Finance & Program Compliance

this is a photo of Sharon MacPherson

Sharon MacPherson

VP, Marketing & Operations

Susan Soto

Susan Soto

Senior Manager, Program Compliance and Reporting

This is a photo of Tamar Shostakovsky

Tamar Shostakovsky

Senior Manager, Direct Response

Ginelle Alvaro

Ginelle Alvaro

Communications Specialist

Operation Smile Globe

Tenley Soares, CFRE, MFA-P™

Senior Giving Officer

Rita D'Amico

Rita D’Amico

Giving Officer

Leslie McCourt

Leslie McCourt

Executive Assistant & Office Manager

headshot picture of Marta Serdoncillo

Marta Serdoncillo

Database Integrity Specialist

headshot picture of Jack Chong

Jake Chong

Database Coordinator

Headshot of Michael Gross - donor services

Michael Gross

Smile Partner Program Specialist

headshot picture of nathalie punkkinen

Nathalie Punkkinen, CFRE

Senior Giving Officer

this is a picture of Kaitlin Waters face

Kaitlin Waters

Talent & Culture Specialist

Ahmad Nataj

Ahmad Nataj

Accountant

This is a picture of Paul Evered

Paul Evered

Smile Concierge

Maria Martinez

Maria Martinez

Manager, Gratitude & Stewardship

headshot picture of Candy Keillor

Candy Keillor

Community Engagement Specialist

A picture of Michael Williams

Michael Williams

Community Engagement Specialist

Mary Pereira

Community Engagement Coordinator

this is a picture of Paige Melvin

Paige Melvin

Philanthropy Associate

Tenzin Dolker

Donor Care Associate

This is a picture of Julia Navarro

Julia Navarro

Donor Care Specialist

Financial Overview

Program Investments FY22

  • Surgical Programs 31%
  • Comprehensive Care Centres 26%
  • Local Medical Programs
    including nutrition and other pre- and post-operative care programs
    22%
  • Training & Education 21%

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 [email protected]. 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

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