Clefts

Our Experts

At the Center for Craniofacial Anomalies at UCSF, a team of specialists, not one individual clinician, examines and develops a treatment plan for each patient. Our philosophy, which is shared by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, equips us to take a holistic approach to the physical and emotional needs of our patients and their families. The skills of experts from several disciplines are needed to provide a thorough, comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan for each patient.

Doctors

• Dr. Radhika Chigurupati, oral and maxillofacial surgeon

• Dr. Gerd J. Cropp, pediatric pulmonologist

• Dr. Ilona J Frieden, director of Pediatric Dermatology

• Dr. Nalin Gupta, chief of Pediatric Neurological Surgery

• Dr. William Y Hoffman, chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

• Dr. Janice S Lee, oral and maxillofacial surgeon

• Dr. John McQuitty C., pediatric pulmonologist

• Dr. Kristina W. Rosbe, pediatric otolaryngologist

• Dr. Anne M. Slavotinek, geneticist

• Dr. Karin Vargervik, orthodontist, Craniofacial Team Director

Nurses

Anne Boekelheide, B.S.N., M.S.N., P.N.P., earned her degree in nursing at the University of Portland and her masters in nursing and pediatric nurse practitioner degrees at the University of California, San Francisco. She has been a nurse at UCSF for over 20 years and has been a Craniofacial team member since 1989. She is active in the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and has lectured at numerous training courses and participated in nursing research on cleft care.

Other Experts

Debora Gish, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with children with craniofacial differences and their families. She earned a degree in social work at the University of California, Berkeley and has been a member of the Craniofacial team since 2000. She is a member of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. She is fluent in Spanish.

Susanna Vasquez, M.Ed./C.C.C.-S.L.P., is a speech/language pathologist specializing in the unique speech and language issues of children and adults with cleft lip and/or palate, craniofacial anomalies and related disorders. She earned her M.Ed. in Speech/Language Pathology from North Carolina Central University. She is a member of such organizations as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.

Alison Winder, M.A., M.S., received her degrees in genetic counseling and medical genetics at the University of California, Irvine and Indiana University. She meets with patients, parents or guardians to discuss the likely cause, prognosis and recurrence risk of the particular craniofacial condition affecting the family member.