Cleft & Craniofacial Team University of Minnesota

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Cleft & Craniofacial Team University of Minnesota

Comprehensive team care for children and adults with cleft lip and palate & craniofacial conditions.

05/26/2026

Honored to share that the UMN Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic has been recently recognized as a 2025 Clinical Training Site of Excellence by the University of Minnesota Office of Academic Clinical Affairs. 💛〽️

The excellence of this program truly is a University-wide and community effort. Based in the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry at Moos Tower, our clinic brings together professionals from across the University and community to provide coordinated, interdisciplinary care for children, adults, and families affected by cleft and craniofacial differences throughout Minnesota and the Midwest.

Since 1964, the clinic has also served as a model for interprofessional education and collaboration, helping train future healthcare professionals through individualized mentorship and patient-centered care.

Under the leadership of Medical Director and Craniofacial Surgeon Dr. Renie Daniel, our multidisciplinary team is proud to support learners from the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, and Nursing, the College of Liberal Arts, and the MNLEND program.

This recognition reflects the compassion, teamwork, innovation, and dedication our faculty, staff, trainees, and clinical partners bring to every patient and family we serve.

Congratulations to our entire team on this meaningful honor.

05/21/2026

Confidence. Courage. Joy. ✨
She radiates it. 🩵

05/06/2026

This Nurses Week, we celebrate the power of nurses — and the incredible impact Karla makes every day. 💙

As Nurse Coordinator for the University of Minnesota Cleft & Craniofacial Program in the School of Dentistry, Karla helps our cleft and craniofacial heroes grow stronger through compassion, advocacy, and expert care.

Thank you for guiding and supporting our patients and families through every milestone with warmth, dedication, and heart.

If Karla has helped you or makes you smile, drop a ❤️ and message for her!

Happy Nurses Week! ✨

CraniofacialCare PediatricNursing

04/24/2026

🦸‍♂️✨ SUPERHERO SPOTLIGHT ✨🦸‍♂️

Another incredible superhero we’re honored to know 💛

🌪️ Future goal: Meteorologist
(Already a tornado expert—seriously, ask him anything!)

Calvin is almost 11 years old 😮

He was born with Stickler syndrome, including Pierre Robin Sequence—bringing early challenges with cleft palate, breathing, and feeding.

And today?
He is thriving.

Calvin has been with the UMN team since day one. His parents remember those early days well— side-lying feeds, Haberman bottle, tracking every ounce.

It wasn’t easy. But they didn’t go through it alone. 💛

At a recent visit, his mom and our craniofacial SLP and feeding specialist, Dr. Anna Thurmes, reflected on just how far he’s come.

The best part?

With thoughtful planning and expert care, Calvin has had an excellent outcome with minimal intervention—his initial palate repair was a success, and he’s now a speech therapy graduate. 🎉

That’s the journey.
Not always easy—but with the right team, it becomes possible.

At the University of Minnesota Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic, led by Dr. Renie Daniel, we walk alongside families every step of the way—through the challenges, the milestones, and everything in between.

Because these kids?
They don’t just overcome.
They thrive. 🌟

04/22/2026

The muscle repair is the most important part of cleft palate repair…

We have seen a flood of new patients in clinic recently with cleft palate who have speech problems related to velopharyngeal dysfunction (nasal speech).

For all of these kids- there has been a consistent findings- the initial palate surgery failed to repair the muscle.

Without good muscle function, the palate cannot lift up and create a seal from the mouth and the nose. This causes significant issues with speech and swallow.

Repairing the muscle properly is the most important part of the cleft palate repair.

The good news?

Dr. Renie Daniel, surgeon at the UMN Cleft Craniofacial Clinic, is an expert in reconstructing the muscle so it works as it is supposed to.

Does your child have a cleft palate and speech problems? Not getting the answers you need?

Schedule a consult with Dr. Renie Daniel. As a part of the visit, your child will also be seen by our expert SLPs- Dr. Anna Thurmes and Dr. Angie Morillas. Together, they will come up with a plan to help your child.

📧 cleft@umn.edu
📞 +1 (612) 625-9256

04/09/2026

We’re proud to highlight Dr. Renie Daniel, Medical Director of the University of Minnesota Cleft & Craniofacial Program, as a featured speaker at the Star of the North Meeting.

Her session will focus on what matters most—how coordinated, team-based care transforms outcomes across a lifetime. Surgical, medial and dental care will be discussed.

Because it’s never just one surgery. It’s a journey—and no family should walk it alone. Learn how you can help patients on the journey.

🔗 Link in bio to register

04/06/2026

🦸‍♂️✨ SUPERHERO SPOTLIGHT ✨🦸‍♂️

Meet Angelo 💚

💚 Favorite color: Green
🍳 Favorite food: Rice with egg
🦸 Favorite hero: Deadpool
🚓 Dream job: Police officer

Angelo’s story is one of strength, resilience, and big dreams.

His family shared something we hear so often—and want every new parent to know:

The beginning can feel overwhelming. There are so many emotions, so many unknowns. But you are not alone.

With the right team by your side, that weight becomes lighter.

At the University of Minnesota Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic—led by Dr. Daniel—our team of specialists walks alongside families every step of the way. We empower parents to focus on what matters most: watching their child grow, thrive, and become exactly who they’re meant to be. 💛

“Your child is far more than their diagnosis. Their scars are a symbol of their strength.”

We’re so proud of Angelo and all our cleft and craniofacial heroes! The world needs more heroes like you 🚓✨

UMNCleftTeam

03/09/2026

For many kids, clear speech 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 — 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩. 💛

This incredible kiddo is working with our cleft speech-language pathologist, Dr. Angie Morillas, practicing the skills needed to build clear speech after palate repair.

✨ Learning correct lip and tongue placement for oral sounds like “ba.”
✨ Building language through interpretation and expansion (sound to “help” → “help me”).

These techniques help children develop the motor patterns and language foundation needed for clear speech.

These moments may look simple, but they are critical building blocks for speech development in children with cleft palate.

Specialized cleft speech therapy and early team care can make a huge difference in helping kids find their voice.

When choosing your team, make sure they have all the expertise your child will need. Our SLPs are doctorate-trained and have completed advanced fellowship training in cleft and craniofacial speech.

P.S. That final high five is well deserved. 🙌

03/08/2026

Changing lives across borders—this is what global cleft care looks like. 🌍

Celebrating International Women’s Day and the incredible women making an impact in medicine and around the world.

UMN Cleft and Craniofacial Surgeon Dr. Renie Daniel frequently travels with Operation Smile, working alongside local healthcare teams to provide cleft care while also helping train and support providers so more children can receive life-changing treatment in their own communities.

Her expertise, leadership, and heart for global care are helping strengthen cleft care systems worldwide.

To all women—thank you for all that you do. Happy International Women’s Day. 🩵

UMNCleftTeam

03/06/2026

Superhero status: confirmed. 🦸‍♀️💗

Strength, bravery, and a bright smile.
Helping kids smile inside and out—it’s what we do best at the U of MN Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic!

03/03/2026

When it comes to cleft palate and speech, there’s a lot of misinformation out there.

Let’s clear it up. 💬

We’re breaking down 7 common myths about cleft palate & speech — and sharing the evidence-based truths every parent deserves to know.

From when speech therapy should start…
to whether surgery is always needed…
to how long therapy really lasts…

Our Craniofacial SLP team is here to help families make informed, confident decisions every step of the way.

💛 Save this post for later
💛 Share with a parent who may need it
💛 Reach out if you’d like a consultation or second opinion

Expert, team-based cleft care matters.
We’re here when you need us. Bookmark and share!

Address

515 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN
55455

Telephone

+16126255945

Website

https://dentalclinics.umn.edu/specialty/cleft-craniofacial

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