Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, pays tribute to the babies born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial differences, their families and the many professionals and organizations that provide information and integral services.

OMAHA, NE – July 16, 2021 – Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, has posted a new blog on her website entitled, “National Cleft And Craniofacial Awareness Month Is Near And Dear To My Heart.” Dr. Adetayo acknowledges how common these conditions are and celebrates the babies and their families who meet and rise above the many challenges they pose.

“As a plastic surgeon working with children and adults with cleft and craniofacial anomalies,” writes Dr. Adetayo, “I am particularly fond of July, the month that brings the issues and challenges of craniofacial differences to the foreground.” She continues, “Most people don’t realize that 1 in 38 babies will be born with congenital (birth) anomaly such as a cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, or other pediatric congenital conditions that can affect the body from head to toe.”

According to Dr. Adetayo, “Many people think that clefts only occur in children born in “other” countries, but in the United States, 1 in 700 are born with clefts each year and 1 in 2500 are born with craniosynostosis.” She elaborates, “Clefts occur when tissue in the baby’s upper lip or roof of the mouth (palate) do not join together completely during pregnancy. Craniosynostosis is when the connection between the skull bones prematurely close and this can affect the development of the skull, the brain, and the face.”

“My objective,” says Dr. Adetayo, “is to help raise awareness about these conditions and bring attention to the specialized care required for children and adults with cleft and craniofacial differences. Also, online search for quality content can be quite daunting, so I also want to provide some resources for patients and families.”

The entire blog can be read at: LINK HERE

About Dr. Adetayo

Dr. Seun Adetayo currently practices in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a board-certified Plastic Surgeon and a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  She is a Professor of Surgery, and Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Adetayo is unique in her field. As a gifted surgeon operating in a competitive field, Dr. Adetayo is also the first foreign-born (Nigerian) female minority surgeon to have built a successful nationally accredited multidisciplinary program for children with birth defects in Northeastern New York. She continued in this trajectory of helping patients and families as she now heads the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery where she serves as the Chief at the Children’s Hospital. Her journey has been dedicated to caring for patients and their families; mentorship for students, residents, and faculty; advocacy for legislation at local and national level; research; education; and community engagement and leadership. She shares her journey and strategies for success via her print material, meeting panels, blogs and speaking engagements.
Dr Adetayo has authored several book chapters in leading texts, including the second edition of Comprehensive Cleft Care which is an authoritative text volume on cleft and craniofacial disorders and treatment.  She also authored a chapter in the Family Companion Guide for educating patients and families with cleft and craniofacial diagnoses. She was also the author of the chapter on treatment of zygoma fractures in the text Operative Techniques in Plastic Surgery.

She has received over 40 awards and recognition, and her work has resulted in over 50 published works and over 60 presented works at regional, national, and international meetings. She is published in peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, and Journal of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics.

Dr Adetayo plays an important role in mentoring and education in surgery, healthcare, and professional circles. She served as an invited surgeon and surgical educator during her last mission trip to Zimbabwe, where she served as the lead surgeon and guest lecturer for various hands-on plastic surgical reconstructions and teaching sessions. She is active in Women In Leadership lectures and advocacy. She served as a speaker for the Synthes collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Company on Improving Cultural Competence and Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare, and was one of four selected panelist speakers on Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery International Program by L’Oreal in conjunction with Resurge International. She was an invited speaker at the 2019 Healthcare Finance Management Association (HFMA) annual Women In Leadership Conference in upstate New York. In 2020, she served as the Keynote Speaker for the Stryker Women’s Network National Conference National Women in Surgery and Leadership event in California.
Dr. Adetayo has served in various community leadership positions including Chairperson of the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Co-President of the Phi Delta Epsilon Premedical Society, Co-President of the Pritzker REMEDY Cuba Medical Aid Mission, Coordinator of the Chicago Local Chapter of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) program for inner city Chicago school kids. She currently serves as Managing Editor and Co-Chair of the Learning Resource Committee of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA).

She has been involved in various medical education and surgical trips to several countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nigeria, Peru, and Zimbabwe as educator and surgeon. She was awarded a Diploma of Honor conferred by the President of the Congress of the Republic of Peru.  She collaborates on meaningful initiatives with various international organizations including Rotary International and The Smile Train on improving surgical outcomes, healthcare delivery, patient safety, and quality control standards in surgical reconstruction. She continues to be active in advocacy, and philanthropic efforts in developing children and advancing communities.