The Cleft team of the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital is the largest cleft team within The Netherlands. The cleft team is multidisciplinary and includes the following specialties: plastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, dentistry, medical genetics, ENT surgery (including speech therapy), psychiatry, psychology. Together, the team provides patient centred care and the best possible treatment of craniofacial anomalies with additional expertise in the multidisciplinary treatment of cleft lip and/or palate, 22q11.2 DS, Pierre Robin sequence, oligodontia and related anomalies, microtia and related syndromes such as hemifacial microsomia and Treacher Collins.

Apart from being the largest cleft lip/palate and microtia team in the Netherlands, we are also a recognized Center of Expertise for 22q11.2DS, microtia/craniofacial microsomia/ middle ear anomalies, Robin, sequence, oligodontia and vascular anomalies by the Dutch Ministry of Health. We conduct scientific research, participate in international research collaborations and working groups (f.e. first concensus meeting on Pierre Robin) and provide invited speakers to national and international meetings and working groups. We are well known for our regenerative medicine research, 3D facial lab, Hubrecht institute. Furthermore, the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital regularly organizes dissection courses regarding the treatment of craniofacial anomalies. We participate in the advisory board of national patient organisations such asBOSK(cleft palate), and the microtia c artresiaorganisation, Hevas, OI patient society.To provide patient centred care, we organise regular clinical educational programs for health care providers as well as patients, parents and family.

Continuity of healthcare for these patients is secured by transferring thed pediatric care, provided in the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, to the adult health care in the University Medical Centre of Utrecht to which a significant part of the team members are also affiliated. As both hospitals use the same digital medical file system, patient data is accessible from both hospitals.

Lastly we are able to provide the full range of care as every systemic anomaly associated with the craniofacial anomalies mentioned above, can be treated by the specialised teams in our hospitals (f.e. laryngocoesophageal fistulae, renal cysts etc).