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Our Affiliations and Partners

Shriners Children’s Boston and MassGeneral Hospital for Children partner to provide comprehensive care for patients with cleft and craniofacial conditions.

Massachusetts General Hospital for Children logo

Launched in April 2017, the Cleft and Craniofacial Center treats children born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other craniofacial conditions. The center is a collaboration between Shriners Children's Boston and MassGeneral Hospital for Children and is designed to make it easy for our teams to work together to ensure patients receive high-quality care.

Each child’s comprehensive care team includes a plastic surgeon, oral-maxillofacial surgeon, orthodontist, otolaryngologist, speech therapist, dietitian, pediatrician, geneticist and other associated specialists. All care is provided in a family-centered environment regardless of the families' ability to pay or insurance status.

We understand the stress and uncertainty that comes with having a child with a cleft lip, cleft palate or other craniofacial disorder. Our goal is to ensure easy access to the care your child needs. After the age of 18, your child’s care team will determine the appropriate time to transition care to a Massachusetts General Hospital specialist for continued follow-up through adulthood.

Collaborative Approach to Care

At the Cleft and Craniofacial Center, we have a team of specialists who collaborate closely to treat children with craniofacial conditions. After checking into the center, you and your child will be escorted to an exam room. All of the specialists your child needs to see that day will come to you, including the oral surgeon, plastic surgeon, nurses, orthodontist, speech pathologist and dietitian. This collaborative model allows for all of your child’s care providers to remain informed and aligned on the treatment plan throughout all of their stages of care.

Nurse care managers and social workers are available during and in between appointments to assist you and your child with any counselling services or other support you might need.

Our Pediatric Burn Care Affiliation

In addition to our work in cleft and craniofacial conditions, Shriners Children's Boston is also an active member of the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System, which focuses on patient care for burn injuries.

The Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System

As an extension of the work being done between Shriners Children's Boston and MassGeneral Hospital for Children, our two organizations are also members of the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System (BHBIMS).

The BHBIMS is a collaboration between Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Children's Boston, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Boston University School of Public Health.

The BHBIMS is committed to research focused on the long-term functional and psychosocial outcomes of burn injuries. This research is used to expand educational resources for medical professionals involved in burn treatment.

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Accreditation

The Cleft and Craniofacial Center is accredited by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). The mission of the ACPA is to optimize patient care teams to ensure they meet the highest quality standards for patient care and team collaboration.

Shriners Children's Boston is thrilled to be a member of this prestigious organization. Membership provides our team unique opportunities to work with specialists from other organizations who share the common goal of delivering optimal outcomes to patients.

Approved ACPA teams include qualified professionals from medical, surgical, dental and other health disciplines who work together to provide comprehensive care to patients. The ACPA also provides resources to patients and families, makes referrals to ACPA Approved Teams, raises funds for research, advocates for family-centered team care, and awards scholarships to health care professionals and college students affected by cleft and craniofacial conditions.

We Understand the Unique Medical Needs of Children

We provide vital, pioneering treatment from birth to age 18. Here, children have the opportunity to be evaluated and treated by doctors recognized as the best by their peers.