RAWALPINDI: Dental College HITEC-IMS, in collaboration with the Cleft Care Foundation, organized an interactive awareness session on cleft lip and palate for house officers, postgraduate trainees and faculty members on July 28, 2026, bringing clinical education and community-focused cleft care together.
The session focused on improving awareness among dental professionals about the etiology, early diagnosis, multidisciplinary management and rehabilitation of patients born with cleft lip and palate.
Beyond the clinical aspects of cleft deformities, the discussion also highlighted the psychological and social challenges faced by affected individuals and the importance of coordinated care in addressing their needs.
Lecture highlights need for early cleft care
Prof. Dr. Afeef Umar Zia emphasized the importance of timely intervention and coordinated teamwork in improving functional and aesthetic outcomes for patients with cleft lip and palate.
The session reinforced that effective cleft care extends beyond a single dental or surgical intervention. Patients may require coordinated input from multiple healthcare professionals throughout different stages of treatment, making multidisciplinary collaboration an important component of comprehensive cleft management.
The lecture also emphasized the importance of community awareness in helping affected individuals access appropriate care at the right time.
Cleft Care Foundation showcases humanitarian work
The awareness session also provided an opportunity to highlight the humanitarian initiatives of the Cleft Care Foundation, particularly its efforts to provide comprehensive cleft care and support underserved communities.
Participants were introduced to the broader role of community-based initiatives in improving access to cleft-related healthcare and supporting patients and families who may otherwise face barriers to treatment.
The discussion therefore connected classroom and clinical learning with the realities of delivering cleft care within underserved populations.
House officers and trainees engage in interactive session
House officers, postgraduate trainees and faculty members actively participated in the session, gaining insights into the clinical, psychological and social dimensions of cleft care.
The interactive format allowed participants to explore the role dental professionals can play within multidisciplinary teams managing patients with cleft lip and palate.
For dental trainees in particular, exposure to these aspects of care can help broaden their understanding of cleft management beyond diagnosis and routine dental treatment.
HITEC-IMS and Cleft Care Foundation sign MoU
The initiative culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Dental College HITEC-IMS and the Cleft Care Foundation.
The agreement marks the beginning of a collaborative partnership between the two organizations, with a focus on cleft care, education, research and community outreach.
The partnership could provide a platform for combining academic and clinical learning with community-oriented initiatives, while creating opportunities to strengthen awareness and support for patients affected by cleft conditions.
From awareness to collaborative cleft care
The event highlighted the importance of preparing future dental professionals to recognize cleft conditions early and understand the multidisciplinary approach required throughout a patient's care journey.
By bringing together dental education, humanitarian outreach and institutional collaboration, the initiative also demonstrated how academic institutions and community-focused organizations can work together to address gaps in cleft care.
Dental College HITEC-IMS said it remains committed to educational and community-oriented initiatives aimed at promoting academic excellence, professional development and compassionate patient care.
The MoU with the Cleft Care Foundation now provides a formal framework for taking that commitment further through collaboration in cleft healthcare, education, research and community outreach.
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