Operation Smile, the world’s largest volunteer-based medical charity of its kind providing free cleft lip and cleft palate surgery, awarded Kathy Finegan RN of West Chester the Donna Poe-Davis Award for Excellence in Nursing at a volunteer reception on June 5.
The award celebrates her generous donations of time and talents to improve the lives of children around the world living with facial deformities.

Finegan was one of 18 volunteers recognized for their contributions to Operation Smile’s efforts. She has served as a volunteer for more than nine years and completed 31 missions. In July, she will complete her 32nd mission in the Congo.

After receiving the award, Finegan said, “I am so proud to be a member of Operation Smile and to participate in their life changing surgical missions throughout the world. The satisfaction and fulfillment of volunteering with Op Smile is beyond words. It is definitely a privilege to witness the happiness of our parents and children who share their joy and love with us.”

The volunteer reception concluded the second day of Operation Smile’s annual NEXT conference, held this year June 4-6. The conference brought approximately 200 health professionals from 40 countries together to learn the latest surgical techniques and best practices in the changing global surgery environment.

Operation Smile, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., is an international medical charity with a presence in more than 60 countries, whose global network of thousands of credentialed medical volunteers from more than 80 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 220,000 free surgical procedures for children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. To build long-term sufficiency in resource poor environments, Operation Smile trains doctors and local medical professionals in its partner countries so they are empowered to treat their local communities. Operation Smile also donates medical equipment, supplies and provides year-round medical treatment through its worldwide centers.