Upstate Cleft and Craniofacial Center

Upstate Specialty Services at Harrison Center, Suite E

  • 550 Harrison Street
    Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Fax 315.464.6586
Facilities - ENT Clinic at Upstate Specialty Services

The Children We Serve

Cleft lip and palate is the fourth most common birth defect, affecting approximately one in every 750 live births. Each year, over 5,000 children are born with cleft lip/palate in the U.S. In addition, approximately 82,000 children are born annually with an abnormality of their face, head or neck.

We care for over 300 children annually. Children of all ages born with a cleft or other craniofacial disorder and their families will find a home at our center. We follow children from birth (and in some cases, prenatally) until adulthood. We see children of all ages who have previously had clinical care elsewhere, as well. We also evaluate and treat children without a known cleft who have certain speech problems.

About the Central New York Cleft and Craniofacial Center

The Central New York Cleft and Craniofacial Center was founded in the 1950’s and is one of the oldest continually operating programs at Upstate Medical University Hospital. Our clinical services have evolved over the past 50 years. We provide integrated and coordinated management for children and their families. This comprehensive team care approach optimizes accessibility, continuity and long-term follow-up, maximizing outcomes for our patients. In addition, we study the outcome of our treatment procedures to determine the most effective ways to help children look and function their best.

Our core team is comprised of experts in the areas of:

  • Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery
  • Genetics
  • Orthodontics

  • Pediatric Dentistry

  • Speech Pathology

  • Feeding, Audiology

Our extended team includes specialists in:

  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology for airway management

Meet the Cleft and Craniofacial Team >

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Resource Links

There are many organizations that provide information about cleft lip/palate and craniofacial conditions. Here are a few websites you may find helpful to get you started.

  • https://cleftline.org – The Cleftline website is sponsored by the Cleft Palate Foundation founded by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association in 1973 to be the public arm of the professional association. They also have a toll free number to provide information about clefting and other craniofacial conditions as well as referrals to local family support groups.
  • http://www.faces-cranio.orgFACES provides financial support for non-medical expenses to patients traveling to a craniofacial center for treatment. Eligibility is based on financial and medical need. Resources include newsletters, information about craniofacial conditions, and networking opportunities.
  • http://www.cleftadvocate.org – The Cleft Advocate provides advice for people who are fighting insurance denials for their medical care.
  • http://www.aboutface.org/HTML_Pages/main.htmlAboutface provides educational and emotional support to persons born with craniofacial birth and acquired anomalies and their families.
  • http://www.mums-network.orgMUMS is a national parent to parent organization that is primarily a networking system to match parents who have children with the same or similar conditions.
  • https://www.smiletrain.org – The Smile Train has a cleft information public library with access to full transcripts of numerous articles and studies related to every major cleft issue.
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