At ECLR, we are dedicated to providing families with the best possible care for their children with cleft lip. Our team is made up of highly skilled and experienced surgeons, speech therapists, orthodontists, and other specialists who are committed to delivering exceptional results for our patients. We are proud of the groundbreaking discovery that our team made in 2011 about the benefits of high levels of estrogen in newborn babies for cleft lip repair, and we have been at the forefront of research and innovation in this field ever since.

Our mission is to provide the highest quality care to children with cleft lip and their families, using advanced techniques and cutting-edge technology. We specialize in early intervention and repair of cleft lip using the ECLR method, which involves smaller incisions and a "no-stitch" technique, and has been shown to have excellent outcomes in terms of both aesthetics and function.

Meet our Team

World-class providers

Our team is made up of a dedicated, multi-disciplinary group of cleft care specialists from Los Angeles.
The combined experience of these individuals is what allows us to deliver outstanding results our patients.

SURGEONS

Dr. Hammoudeh is a professor of surgery at USC. He is the primary investigator and working in neonatal cleft lip repair. As lead surgeon and author, he has co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles and lectured nationally as well as internationally on the topic.

He is a recognized leader in pediatric plastic surgery and has active research in neonatal cleft lip repair, neonatal distraction, and craniofacial reconstruction of the jaw.

**Dr. Urata** is a professor of surgery at USC at our institution. An accomplished surgeon, author, and speaker, he specializes in the most complex craniofacial anomalies.
Dr. Urata is a well-respected researcher in his field of cleft care and has recently received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the molecular mechanisms of cleft palate. He holds positions as both associate and research assistant professor in this area.

**Dr. Magee** is a professor of surgery at USC and is the co-investigator in the early cleft lip repair study.
In addition to his medical expertise, he also brings a unique global background to the our team. As the oldest son of the founders of Operation Smile, he was exposed to the challenges of children with craniofacial anomalies at an early age. He has since led Operation Smile teams in surgeries both nationally and internationally.

CLEFT TEAM

Our multidisciplinary team is made up of a variety of specialists who will help care for and support your family. In addition to the surgeons, our team members include our pediatric anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and social workers.