Celebrating World Photography Day
Every smile tells a story, and those stories are told thanks to Operation Smile’s volunteer photographers who capture powerful patient photos — before and after — cleft lip and palate surgeries. The images snapped by each Patient Imaging Technician, also known as PIT, not only document the life-saving difference of a cleft repair; they also help guide the medical care each child receives. Surgeons rely on images to prepare for surgery, educators employ them to train medical teams, and now Operation Smile is using them, in partnership with Microsoft, to advance the role of artificial intelligence within cleft care to improve outcomes and results.
Ayo Adeniyi, Director of Patient Data and Medical Records at Operation SmileOur Patient Imaging Technicians capture the essence of what we do — the joy, the transformation and the hope that every surgery brings. Their work doesn’t just document change; it helps drive change.
Every smile tells a story.
And behind many of those stories is someone with the heart, skill, and compassion to capture them. This World Photography Day, recognized on August 19, we’re turning the lens toward one of our own, Canadian volunteer and Patient Imaging Technician (PIT), Kate Fisher to celebrate the power of photography in transforming lives, one smile at a time.
At Operation Smile, our mission is grounded in empathy, dignity, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves to be seen, celebrated, and cared for. At the heart of our work is human connection and photography plays a powerful role in capturing and sharing those connections with the world.
More than just images, our photos tell stories of courage, care, and resilience. They reflect the hope we see in every child’s journey and honour the patients, families, and volunteers whose lives we’re privileged to be part of.
From Behind the Lens: Meet Kate Fisher
Kate Fisher is one of the extraordinary Canadian volunteers who helps bring our mission to life, not just through her camera, but through her compassion, dedication, and eye for humanity.
Trained in Bolivia, Kate holds the distinction of being Operation Smile Canada’s only Patient Imaging Technician. In her role, she captures powerful images of children before and after their cleft surgery — images that do so much more than document a moment in time.
They:
- Help guide our medical teams in delivering personalized care.
- Support surgical planning and documentation.
- Assist with training future medical volunteers.
- Contribute to groundbreaking innovations like AI-supported cleft diagnosis.
- Tell the story of a child who has faced adversity and now gets to grow stronger, healthier and full of hope.
Kate’s camera becomes a tool for healing, education, and transformation and, through her lens, we see not just patients, but people — each with a name, a future, and a smile that matters.
Kate’s Impact Is Bigger Than a Picture
Whether she’s in the operating room or quietly supporting families during patient intake, Kate brings tenderness, trust, and joy to every moment. She captures the spark of courage in a child’s eyes, the love of a parent waiting anxiously, and the relief and joy that follow a successful surgery.
Her work helps Operation Smile and our global family put smiles in focus, literally and figuratively showing the world what dignity looks like in action.
A Picture of Enduring Impact
At Operation Smile, every role matters, and every photo taken by a PIT like Kate contributes to a bigger picture: a world where no child suffers from the lack of safe cleft surgery. Kate’s story reminds us that the impact of one person, one lens, and one moment can ripple across the globe.
This World Photography Day, we thank Kate Fisher and all our volunteer storytellers for showing the world what we do, why it matters, and most importantly, who it’s for.
Because behind every smile is a story worth telling.
And behind every story is someone who helps us see the beauty in it.
