Interviews with Providers and Advocates

Angela Mills (Study Lead)

I am a clinical research coordinator at Seattle Children’s. A career pivot took me from being a classically trained cellist and arts administrator to clinical research! In addition to the CARE Study, I am the coordinator for various research projects in the craniofacial and otolaryngology departments at Seattle Children’s. I have greatly enjoyed connecting with families on the CARE Study and I look forward to continued connection in the CFM community.

Carrie Heike, MD, MS

I am a pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. I have a passion for providing interdisciplinary team care to children with craniofacial conditions.  My research focuses on the epidemiology of craniofacial conditions, clinical outcomes, quality improvement, patient-centered outcomes, interdisciplinary care, and team science.

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.

Kelly Evans, MD

I am an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Clinical Medicine at the University of Washington. My scholarship focus includes working with diverse teams to develop pathways to facilitate evidence-based care for children with rare conditions. e.g. Robin sequence. My research focuses on developing models to understand and treat airway obstruction and sleep apnea in infants and children with craniofacial conditions. I am dedicated to developing and nurturing collaborative partnerships to improve care delivery and outcomes for children 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.

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.

Alessia Johns, PhD, ABPP

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.