MCG
n An orthodontist to straighten the teeth and align the jaws n A geneticist who screens patients for craniofacial syndromes and helps parents and adult patients understand the chances of having more children with these conditions n A nurse who helps with feeding problems and provides ongoing supervision of the child’s health n An otolaryngologist n A pediatrician to monitor overall health and development n A psychologist or other behavioral health specialist to support the patient and family n A speech-language pathologist to assess speech and feeding problems n Other specialists as needed. Because most patients require years of specialized treatment through the center, Yu has watched many of them grow from babies to young adults, something he describes as very satisfying. “We all have different reasons to get out of bed and go to work in the morning. For me, this is it. I really enjoy helping our patients and taking care of them through the years.” The years weren’t always easy for Harden, especially around her middle-school days. “It was hard a lot—I mean, looking around and realizing I was different,” said the recent Hephzibah High School graduate. “But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have never looked at myself in the mirror and thought I was something hideous. Instead, I thought, ‘I am strong and someone fearfully and wonderfully made by God.’ ” Harden plans to attend The Crown College of the Bible in the fall as she works toward becoming a counselor to children with special needs. “There’s a reason God made me this way, and I want to use it to bring him glory,” she said. “I think seeing me will help these kids realize that I understand what it’s like to be different.” u
MeDicine
“The goal is to return patients to a state of anonymity,” said Yu, Director of the Craniofacial Center and Chief of the MCG Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, “so that when they go to the movie or the ball game, people notice them, but they are no longer staring because the person looks different. I think that’s very important.” Yu was recruited to MCG to start the Craniofacial Center in 1994—the same year Harden had her first surgery. The center, one of only two in Georgia, was recently reaccredited by the Commission on Approval of Teams for the American Cleft PalateCraniofacial Association and the Cleft Palate Foundation for meeting the peer-reviewed established standards in patient care and quality. Centers reapply for approval every five years. “This is an external validation of the effort and commitment we make to our patients to be the best we can be for them,” Yu said. “Patients should feel confident that we are skilled in the appropriate techniques and that we take their care very seriously.” Children born with clefts or other craniofacial conditions often face multiple, complex health problems. Experience has shown that their needs can best be managed by an interdisciplinary team of specialists, which, depending on the child, may include: n A plastic surgeon, oral/maxillofacial surgeon, craniofacial surgeon, and/or neurosurgeon n An audiologist to assess hearing n A pediatric dentist or other dental specialist, such as a prosthodontist, to make any necessary prosthetic devices for the mouth
F A L L 2013
“This is an external validation of the effort and commitment we make to our patients to be the best we can be for them. Patients should feel confident that we are skilled in the appropriate techniques and that we take their care very seriously.” –DR. JACK YU