The 1st International Congress was held in the United States in 1969. Convening every four years at locations around the world, the Congress is devoted to promoting and facilitating the care of individuals with cleft lip and palate and related craniofacial anomalies.
The 12th International Congress represents only the second time that the United States has hosted this conference. The Congress will attract over 1200 professionals and professionals-in-training from every corner of the globe. Advancing the care of affected individuals worldwide is dependent on opportunities such as this, for professionals to exchange research findings and clinical outcomes.
The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). ACPA is an international non-profit medical society of health care professionals who treat and/or perform research on birth defects of the head and face. The members of ACPAserve an extremely important role in the management of children and adults with cleft lip, cleft palate, and craniofacial anomalies. For over 65 years, their goal has been to provide optimal care for this group of patients and their families. Because of the diverse needs of these patients, and the required services of many different specialists, interdisciplinary cooperation and team care is essential to the patients served. ACPA is unique - it is a multidisciplinary organization of over 2500 members, representing more than 30 disciplines in 60 countries. A primary objective of the Association is to foster communication and cooperation among professionals from all specialties. ACPA holds a general scientific meeting of the membership every year where over 200 papers are presented. From the United States, Canada, and around the world, information and ideas relating to improving the care and outcome of patients with clefts and craniofacial anomalies are exchanged.
