Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic named 2025 Clinical Training Site of Excellence

The School of Dentistry’s Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic received designation as a 2025 Clinical Training Site of Excellence from the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs (OACA). 

Each year, OACA honors clinical partners that support the University’s commitment to excellence in training the next generation of oral health professionals through creativity, role modeling, transparency and collaboration. The Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic was one of seven awardees this year.

Established in 1964, the Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic specializes in treating children and adults with conditions affecting the head, face and dentition, including cleft palate. The interprofessional team focuses on speech, craniofacial and dental development, facial appearance and quality of life. 

“The clinic serves as a vital educational site, training learners from the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Dentistry, the school of Medicine, and the Minnesota Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program,” shared the individual who nominated the program. “It emphasizes team-based, patient-centered care, supporting student progression through individualized clinical experiences that pair learners with mentors in their areas of interest while providing broad exposure to multiple specialties.” 

The clinic team found it “incredibly meaningful” to be a recipient of the award, according to Renie Daniel, DMD, MD, FACS, the clinic’s director. “Our team prides itself in our role in training the next generation of students, residents and fellows in cleft and craniofacial care,” she explained. “Being able to share knowledge while delivering high-quality, coordinated care adds an additional layer of purpose to what we do every day.” 

In the clinical setting, learners from across programs have the opportunity to participate in care and practice a collaborative care model. “We value mentoring trainees to build both clinical skills and confidence, while fostering teamwork, communication and a commitment to lifelong learning and improved patient outcomes,” Daniel explained. “Our trainees benefit from close mentorship across disciplines, exposure to complex and evolving care plans, and the opportunity to observe how coordinated teamwork directly impacts patient and family outcomes over time. Trainees carry that experience forward in their careers, applying those principles of collaboration, communication and patient-centered thinking in their field of practice.”

It’s no surprise that the clinic values excellence in patient care and in training future providers, because that excellence is central to everything they do.

“Cleft and craniofacial care is lifelong and deeply personal,” Daniel reflected. “We not only care for patients at critical stages of growth and development, but we also support their families. This requires precision, coordination and long-term commitment across specialties. Excellence, for us, means continuously learning, refining our approach and centering the needs and goals of each individual and family we serve.”