Dr. Garfinkle with wife, Ali, and youngest son, Leo (age 6). Not pictured, children Ian (10) and Maddy (12)
Helping More Oregonians Smile with Wild Abandon Dr. Judah Garfinkle leads efforts to enable healing for all By Jake Ten Pas
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t’s easy to take a smile for granted. For the vast majority of humans, it’s as simple as being happy, sharing a laugh or recalling a cherished memory. But for those born with a craniofacial condition such as cleft palate, obstacles ranging from the physical to the psychological can stand in the way of their basic expression of joy. MAC member Dr. Judah Garfinkle is doing his best to turn that limiting reality upside-down. In 2008, the orthodontist teamed up with the late Portland businessman and philanthropist Bob Blank to found Smile Oregon. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping families affected by craniofacial conditions to access coordinated care through support, awareness, and education.
“I love being a part of the transformation that occurs when someone comes into my office,” says Garfinkle, who maintains a private orthodontic office in SW Portland and also works part-time at OHSU as director of craniofacial orthodontics at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. “You know when someone smiles, but they keep their lips together, versus just letting it rip and grinning ear to ear without having to take the time thinking about covering up their teeth when their emotion moves them?” Continued on page 40
JULY 2020
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