Operation Smile
Dr. Neda's involvement with Operation Smile:
"I began my involvement with Operation Smile in High School after I heard Jose Villegas, a young man, tell his story about how his surgery through Operation Smile changed his life. His story really inspired me. My involvement led me to a mission to Nicaragua and then to a mission to Gaza when I was at the University of Virginia. I realized then that oral health access was a true luxury in many parts of the world. I became eager to work with children and advocate for better oral health for all children. Operation Smile provides free reconstructive cleft surgeries for all children globally.
I continue to volunteer with Operation Smile, and go back to Vietnam regularly. I love that I am able to share what I have learned & hope to inspire my patients to get involved."
-Neda Kalantar
Local Missions:
Through Dr. Neda Kalantar's involvement with other organizations such as Give Kids a Smile, & Cornerstones, Dr. Neda organizes local dental missions in her office. "It's unfortunate that many families who live in our own communities do not have access to affordable dental care. Every little bit helps."
If you would like to get involved please visit www.operationsmile.org or ask Dr. Neda.
Dr. Neda's Dental Missions
Malawi – Operation Smile mission 2022
Forever inspired by a one-of-a-kind “Women in Medicine” Operation Smile International program in Malawi! Our team represented 15 countries including the UK, The Netherlands, Philippines, Honduras, Sweden, Rwanda, South Africa, Malawi, Morocco, Madagascar, Jordan, Canada & the US. More than 50% of the population of Malawi live under the poverty line and this will stagnate […]
Dr Neda participates in “Smile on Peru” Mission!
In late February 2019, right before Covid-19 became a stark reality, Dr. Neda Kalantar & a team of dentists & chefs managed to make it on a dental/culinary mission to Huachipa, Peru. The people in this hard hit community were exceptionally kind, hardworking & positive. A definite reminder of our daily blessings. This unique collaboration […]
Operation Smile Dental Mission
If you have been on a volunteer mission you know that it can be unpredictable, & you never know what to expect truly until you get there. While I have visited other locations in Vietnam with Operation Smile, this was my first time to Hoi An & the Quang Nam Province. With a population of […]
Project Turquoise- Mission for Smiles
So many people who live in the Metropolitan area do not have access to dental care and suffer from dental infection and pain as a result. With the help and partnership of centers such as Cornerstones in Reston, which helps people build more stable lives, we are able to serve this population and provide them […]
Mission for Smiles
Did you know that February was National Children’s Dental Health Month? That was a mouthful! (pun intended) February is a special month for us because it gives us an opportunity to teach families and children about the importance of oral health. Every year we organize school visits to bring the Tooth Fairy and some of our team members […]
Project Turquoise
I had the honor to be able to experience the first dental mission with Project Turquoise with a group of incredible dentists from the Washington DC area. According to the UN Refugee Agency, reports that an unprecedented 65 million people were uprooted from their homes by conflict and persecution by the end of 2016. What […]