2026 Gillette Children's Craniofacial Conference

Join us in an engaging and educational multidisciplinary conference that focuses on the current standards of care for children with cleft lip and palate. This event brings together specialists in Craniofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Dentistry, Otolaryngology, Oral Surgery, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, Nursing, and Feeding through a comprehensive journey from prenatal diagnosis through early adulthood.

Attendees will follow the clinical pathway of individuals with cleft lip and/or palate, beginning with prenatal diagnosis and continuing through each developmental stage. Presentations will highlight best practices, evolving techniques, and patient-centered care principles critical to optimizing long-term outcomes.

CME Credit Designation: 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 5.75 Contact/Clock Hours

Register to attend by January 15.

Cancellation/Refund Policy: Cancellations received by 10/31/25 will be eligible for a full refund. Cancellations received between 11/01/25 and 12/11/25 will be eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellations received on or after 12/12/25 will not be eligible for a refund. All refunds issued will be less any applicable Eventbrite registration fees and will be issued to the original payment method used to register for the conference.

• Prenatal and Neonatal Care (0–18 months): Diagnosis, family counseling, feeding and airway management, hearing considerations, and pre-surgical and surgical interventions.
• Early Childhood (18 months–6 years): Emphasis on speech and language development, ongoing audiology, dental and orthodontic follow-up, and early therapeutic interventions.
• School-Age (6–10 years): Dental and orthodontic intervention, timing of alveolar bone grafting, imaging, and surgical planning.
• Adolescence to Early Adulthood (10–21 years): Advanced surgical management, including orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty, orthodontic completion, and psychosocial support.

Each session will include Q&A panels offering opportunities for attendees to engage directly with faculty experts.

The educational program will highlight recent advancements in surgical and therapeutic techniques, collaborative care strategies, and the incorporation of patient and family perspectives into long-term treatment planning.

This conference is essential for healthcare providers who care for patients with cleft conditions at any point along the care continuum. Whether you are involved in prenatal counseling, primary care, surgical planning, speech therapy, or ongoing developmental monitoring, this program will enhance your understanding of:

• The interdisciplinary nature of cleft care
• Evidence-based approaches across specialties
• Ways to support patients and families

• Primary Care Providers (Pediatricians, Family Medicine)
• OB/GYNs and Perinatal Providers
• Neonatal and NICU Clinicians
• Nurses (Pediatric, NICU, Perinatal)
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Audiologists
• Dentists and Orthodontists
• Otolaryngologists
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Social Workers and Care Coordinators
• Allied health professionals involved in pediatric care

Participants attending this conference will be able to:

• Define the impact of cleft lip and palate on a patient’s health, development, and quality of life.
• Describe the relevant anatomy and standard care timeline associated with cleft conditions.
• Recognize the inherently multidisciplinary nature of cleft care and identify the roles of various healthcare professionals throughout the continuum.
• Implement and support patient-centered principles in the management and coordination of care into your practice.

Physicians: Gillette Children’s is accredited by the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality, and integrity of this educational activity.

Gillette Children’s designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses: This activity is designed to meet the Minnesota Board of Nursing (MNBON) continuing education requirements for 5.75 contact hours. It is the participant’s responsibility to ascertain if this activity meets the mandatory continuing education requirements of the licensing board under which they practice.

Others: This activity is worth a maximum of 5.75 clock hours. It is the responsibility of the individual to determine if this activity meets their professional requirements for continuing education credit.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding this CME activity, please contact us at [email protected].

If you need hotel accommodations, here are a few hotels available near the conference venue:

• Hyatt Place St. Paul (180 Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101)
• InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront (11 East Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101)
• The Saint Paul Hotel (350 Market Street, St. Paul, MN 55102)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, United States