KEY PEOPLE

Committed to the Cause

Since our founding in 2005, Smile for a Child Foundation has grown into a large family of people passionate and dedicated to helping children with facial differences. We’re very proud of the diversity and skills of our staff and board members. Their unique backgrounds and experience are the key to our success. Find out more about some of our team below.

KEVIN SMITH, DDS, FACS

President and Founder

Dr. Kevin Smith is one of Oklahoma City's leading cleft lip/palate and craniofacial surgeons. Dr. Smith was raised in Oklahoma, and he completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 1988. Currently, Dr. Smith is a Clinical Professor and Residency Program Director in Oral and Maxillofacial at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Smith also is involved with the craniofacial surgery and works extensively with pediatric cranial, orbital and facial remodeling. Dr. Smith has continued service to cleft lip, palate, and craniofacial patients through his volunteer service to the Rotary International sponsored project of Thousand Smiles in Ensenada, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Dr. Smith started and ran a clinic in Tecate, Mexico for several years in combination with Smiles International Foundation. He traveled to Romania with internationally acclaimed Operation Smile. Dr. Smith founded Smile for a Child Foundation in 2005 because he saw the need for funding of cleft lip and palate surgeries in Oklahoma. He wants to ensure that every child receives the best and most complete treatment for their craniofacial difference. In 2009, Dr. Kevin Smith received the HCA Frist Humanitarian Award for helping children with facial differences. He was voted the award recipient not only for the State of Oklahoma, but also the National Award.

SHELLY GEDDES, MS, CCC-SLP

Treasurer

Shelly Geddes is a licensed speech-language pathologist who was born and raised in Oklahoma and received a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Oklahoma in 2004 and an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2006. She is the founder of Pediatric Communication Solutions, Inc. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is the co-director of the John W. Keys Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Team at OUHSC and the co-director of the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) Clinic of Oklahoma. Prior to opening her private practice, she held an academic appointment at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in the College of Allied Health as a Clinical Assistant Professor for twelve years. She has a special interest in assessing and treating children with voice, resonance, and speech sound disorders including: articulation, apraxia, and phonological disorders. She is a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Oklahoma Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSHA). Shelly and her husband James, reside in Norman with their two children, Jett and Kate. Shelly enjoys traveling with her family, going to the beach, yoga, and pilates.

CHERYL ANDERS

Secretary

Cheryl Anders' passion for cleft lip and palate is lifelong. She was born with a cleft lip, and her son, Zachary, was born with a bi-lateral cleft lip. Cheryl got connected with Dr. Smith when he worked on her son. After seeing Dr. Smith's passion, and the care that he takes with cleft patients, she wanted to make sure every child with cleft lip was getting this treatment. Cheryl is a veteran team member and supporter of this organization. She brings a joy and passion for our mission that is unmatched. Cheryl has been happily married for 23 years and has 4 children.

PAUL TIWANA, DDS, MD, MS, FACS

Board Member

Dr. Tiwana is the Francis J. Reichmann Professor and Chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the College of Dentistry at The University of Oklahoma where he is also appointed as a Professor of Surgery in the College of Medicine. He is known for his expertise nationally and internationally in Facial Trauma, Orthognathic Surgery, and Cleft & Craniofacial Surgery. He has also received multiple national awards from related professional organizations and is a fellow of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), a founding fellow of the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery (AACMFS), and is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). He was a previous member of the Residency Review Committee (RRC) in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and past Chair of the Committee on Education and Training (CET) for the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. He also currently serves as a member of the board for the Osteoscience Foundation, a non-profit corporation dedicated to research and education in the area of hard and soft tissue regeneration of the craniofacial complex.

CHARLES L SPICER JR., FACHE

Board Member

Charles Spicer is the current President and CEO of OU Medical System. Spicer oversees all three entities of the OU Medical System, which include OU Medical Center, The Children’s Hospital, and OU Medical Center - Edmond. Spicer received his BA from Baylor and a Masters degree from Trinity University in San Antonio. Spicer serves as an ex-officio member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board and the OU Medical Center Board of Trustees. He also previously served on the board of the OKC Ronald McDonald House Charities. He helped develop the Children’s Hospital Health Alliance, a consortium of local agencies with missions in support of Children’s Hospital. Spicer and Dr. Smith met each other while Spicer was the CEO of The Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Smith was working there. He was impressed by Dr. Smith’s work ethic and dedication to these children with craniofacial differences. He shares his precious time with the foundation and is an invaluable member of the team.

JOHN ARCHER, DDS

Board Member

While in school, Dr. John Archer chose to pursue orthodontics because of the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients, parents and dentists in the community. He enjoys working with local dentists on difficult, yet rewarding, patient cases like cleft palates and other craniofacial malformations to give patients a healthy smile and change their lives. He is a member of a local dental study club, which is comprised of various doctors in different dental fields to discuss treatment planning and multidisciplinary cases. Dr. Archer received his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Baylor, then returned to his home state to attend dental school at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Archer completed a residency program in General Dentistry at Saint Anthony Hospital before earning his certificate of orthodontics at the University of Tennessee in Memphis in 1996. Dr. Archer is married to his high school sweetheart Sheila, and they have four daughters, Lauren, Grace, Caroline, Ella and one son, Will. His family is very involved in activities with Crossing Community Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dr. Archer has a deaf family member and can communicate in American Sign Language.

FABIO RITTO, DDS, MD, MS, PHD

Board Member

Dr. Ritto is an Assistant Professor and Program Director in the Surgical Specialties Department at Pedro Ernesto University Hospital at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and specializes in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He earned his dental degree at Rio de Janeiro State University where he also completed a Residency training and a Master Degree in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. His Medical Degree was earned at Gama Filho University and his PhD at Campinas State University, with a focus in Maxillofacial and Orthognathics Surgery.
He has authored several scientific articles and textbook chapters in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In July he starts a Fellowship in Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery at the University of Oklahoma and will be trained by Dr. Kevin Smith.

Chief Operations Officer