Comprehensive Craniofacial Program Team Member Roles

Below is a list of the different specialists and health care providers on the craniofacial team. Depending on your child's craniofacial condition, he or she may not need to see all of these medical professionals.

• Anesthesiologist: A physician who looks after your child in the operating room and specializes in ensuring that your child is asleep and does not experience pain or discomfort during surgery by administering specific drugs
• Audiologist: Specializes in evaluating your child’s hearing by administering particular tests. Hearing is important as it contributes to the development of speech and language
• Clinical nurse specialist: An advanced practice nurse who provides the in-depth and detailed preoperative assessments required for children who are about to undergo complex craniofacial surgeries
• Craniofacial surgeon: A specially trained plastic surgeon who helps coordinate the care of your child. The craniofacial surgeon and neurosurgeon work together when operating on children with craniofacial conditions
• Craniofacial clinical nurse coordinator: Has expertise in cleft and craniofacial conditions. The coordinator is an important liaison between you, your child, and other members of the team, and is involved in coordinating all aspects of your child's care and surgeries at Duke
• Dentist: Evaluates your child’s teeth, which is important for children with facial differences as it affects the growth of the face and the development of speech
• Geneticist: A physician who specializes in helping to determine if your child’s condition is part of a known craniofacial syndrome. In the Genetics Clinic you meet with a genetic counselor who will discuss the chance that you could have another child in the future with the same condition
• Neuro-radiologist: A physician who has expertise in interpreting diagnostic imaging (CT scans, MRIs, x-rays, etc.) and performs interventional procedures in the craniofacial and vascular malformation population
• Neurosurgeon: A surgeon who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and surgical management of abnormalities of the skull and brain. Neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons work together when operating on children with craniofacial conditions
• Nursing staff: Skilled at caring for children with craniofacial conditions, and provide the acute care, support, health teaching and discharge planning to children and their families immediately following any surgical procedures
• Ophthalmologist: Evaluates your child’s vision, as well as the impact that craniofacial surgery has on your child’s vision
• Orthodontist: A dental specialist with expertise in the surgical management of maxillofacial disorders and dental rehabilitation
• Orthotist: A health care professional who specializes in the creation and maintenance of orthotic devices such as splints and molding helmets
• Otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist): Provides treatment if your child has any problems with their ears, nose, or throat
• Psychiatrist: A specially trained physician who can help assess whether your child is suffering from any emotional difficulties such as low self esteem, anxiety, depression, peer difficulties related to his/her craniofacial condition. Therapeutic interventions included individual and family therapy as well as the prescription of medications, if indicated
• Physiotherapist: A health care professional who provides preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic services aimed at restoring function and preventing disability
• Social worker: Specially trained to understand the different challenges children with craniofacial conditions and their families may encounter. The social worker can provide you and your child with emotional support and guidance and you can talk to them about issues such as: adjusting to a having a baby with a complex medical condition and facial difference, how to support your child during surgeries and hospitalizations, how to prepare your child for school, and how to help him/her have positive relationships with their peers. Social workers are an important contact on the Craniofacial Program, and can provide you with information about resources in the hospital and in your community
• Speech language pathologist: Evaluates the quality and development of your child’s speech and language skills, and can identify problem areas and provide strategies to work on speech and language difficulties

• The Nature of Clefts
• Feeding