Alessia Johns, PhD

I am a board certified pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in the Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery and the University of Southern California (USC) University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Since 2007, I have focused on craniofacial diagnoses and represent psychology on several multidisciplinary teams, including Craniofacial, Craniosynostosis, Facial Paralysis, and Orthognathic Surgery. My work includes providing individual, family, and group therapy and assessment in English and Spanish and supervise psychology post-doctoral fellows. I serve as a co-editor for the Behavioral Sciences section of The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal. I am honored to collaborate on multiple research projects, including several studies with children with craniofacial microsomia and their families.

Canice Crerand, PhD

I am a Principal Investigator in The Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. As a clinical psychologist, I work with the Cleft Lip and Palate Center and the Center for Complex Craniofacial Disorders providing psychological assessment and treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial conditions. My clinical and research interests focus on psychosocial adjustment and body image in children and adolescents with acquired and congenital medical conditions and psychosocial outcomes for youth with craniofacial conditions.

Amelia Drake, MD, FACS

I am the ND Fischer Distinguished Professor of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, and Director of the UNC Craniofacial Center. I graduated from the UNC School of Medicine. After completing my residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center at Ann Arbor, I was a fellow in pediatric otolaryngology at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, before returning to UNC. My clinical and research interests focus on pediatric otolaryngology, pediatric airway disorders, and craniofacial anomalies. I assumed my role as Director of the UNC Craniofacial Center in the School of Dentistry in 2000. I assumed the role of Associate Dean of Academic Programs in the UNC School of Medicine in 2011.

In terms of research, I participated in the FACIAL network study as well as in CLOCK before the CARE grant was awarded.

Craig Birgfeld, MD

I am Craig Birgfeld, Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Washington and Craniofacial Surgeon at Seattle Children’s Hospital. My practice focuses on the treatment of children with craniosynostosis, cleft lip and palate, and craniofacial microsomia. I do my best to treat my patients as if they were my own children and appreciate the gift of becoming part of their lives.

Amy Schefer

I am a patient advocate, school district teacher and administrator, and parent of a daughter with Goldenhar Syndrome (or ‘craniofacial microsomia’). My medical and family advocacy work stems from 20 years in education advocating for language minority families and students, and 16 years advocating for daughter, friends and acquaintances with rare medical conditions. I am part of the National Organization of Rare Disorder’s Rare Action Network, joined Seattle Children’s Hospital researchers and the head of Ear Community to advocate for National research funding from the National Institute of Health on Capitol Hill, have participated in various fundraising and publicity events for Seattle Children’ Hospital, the South Sound YMCA and FACES-the National Craniofacial Association, and appeared on Discover Channel ‘s TLC series “Two in a Million – A Face Like Mine”- a documentary series featuring two people who have the same rare medical condition who get to meet someone like themselves for the first time.

Melissa Tumblin

I am the Founder and Executive Director of the Ear Community Organization and the Microtia and Atresia Support Group on Facebook, serving the Microtia and Atresia community. I am an advocate for the D/HH community and am a hearing health activist. I sit on many boards and councils including the NIDCR (National Institutes for Dental and Craniofacial Research), the Friends CHHC (Congressional Hearing Health Caucus) and am an advisory board member for a biotherapeutics company working on 3D printed stem cell regenerated ears. I have presented accredited presentations for audiology educational organizations and have also presented at many hearing device manufacturer meetings, microtia and atresia surgical conferences and at the FDA. I launched the Microtia and Atresia clinic at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and am a co-investigator on a whole genome sequencing genetic research grant with Harvard, Vanderbilt and the MIT Broad Institute. I established National Microtia Awareness Day and am the recipient of the Family Leadership Award for EHDI Excellence and the Oticon Medical Advocacy Award. I have over 20 years of experience in marketing medical devices and electrosurgical equipment. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Biology/Psychology from the University of Colorado - Boulder.