A gift from the Mt. Sinai Foundation will launch the nation’s first named and accredited craniofacial fellowship at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine.
The Mt. Sinai-Dr. Edward Reiter Fellowship program was modeled after the successful Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation Scholars Program at the university’s School of Medicine.
Craniofacial abnormalities and anomalies—previously known as cleft lip and palate—are a group of deformities in the growth of the head and facial bones. These issues are present at birth and varied, ranging from mild to severe.
The dental school’s Craniofacial Orthodontic Clinic, serving 400 children patients annually in Northeast Ohio, significantly advances care of these anomalies through its Craniofacial Orthodontics Fellowship Program.
The School of Dental Medicine has a long-established expertise in craniofacial care. The craniofacial orthodontics fellowship program was the first of its kind nationally to be accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA).
Manish Valiathan, an associate professor at the dental school and the founding program director of the Craniofacial and Special Care Fellowship Program, said the goal is to better train caregivers and improve patient outcomes.
The fellowship, supported by a $150,000 gift and named for Reiter, who pioneered what would become the craniofacial program at Mt. Sinai Hospital, will benefit one of the school’s two fellows annually for three years.
“In addition to honoring the legacy of Dr. Edward Reiter,” Valiathan said, “this recognizes the leadership of the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation and elevates the status of our dental school as a leader in craniofacial care and education. Reiter Fellows will become leaders and members of local, national and global craniofacial teams and advance the field of care, leading to better treatment outcomes for patients and additional opportunities for research.”
The dental school’s inaugural Reiter Fellow is Rany Bous, who will receive a stipend, tuition and other support, Valiathan said. Each Reiter Fellow will develop an advanced understanding in the care, treatment and research of craniofacial anomalies.
After earning his dental degree from Cairo University in Egypt in 2011, Bous, “captivated by the social and psychological aspects of creating beautiful smiles and faces,” began his pursuit of an orthodontic residency at Case Western Reserve University.
“I’m proud and excited to have been accepted in the Craniofacial, Surgical and Special Care Orthodontics Fellowship Program,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working toward better outcomes for all my patients, both clinically and through understanding the barriers to psycho-social development in patients with facial differences.”
For more information, contact Colin McEwen at colin.mcewen@case.edu.