Dr. David Chang is part of the medical team at Columbia Facial Plastic Surgery Center. While he spends most of the year at the center, Dr. Chang volunteers once a year in Kenya, giving individuals a chance to smile again.  He's also inspired a Columbia group of younger physicians to do similiar facial trauma work in Haiti.

"Patients with cleft lip and cleft palate are often ridiculed, not only by the society but are often hidden by their families," said Dr. Chang. "Children are abandoned or they're sent orphanages. It's something you can't possibly hide. It's there on your face you can't possibly keep your face hidden. "

Cleft lips and cleft palates are a condition where the lip or roof of the mouth doesn't form properly in the womb. Patients with this condition have difficulty drinking out of a cup or even smiling. During his trips to Kenya, Dr. Chang performs free reconstructive surgeries for infants and children with cleft lip and cleft palate womb defects.

Dr. Chang said without the help of organizations as Bethany Kids, Samaritan's Purse and Smile Train, the surgeries would not be possible. He said the children aren't the only ones who benefit from the outcomes of the surgeries either.

"Where you really see it is in the lives of the parents," said Dr. Chang.

Dr. Chang's team has already performed 95 surgeries and has no plans to stop his annual volunteer trips.  He has inspired a group of younger surgeons to want to help in Haiti.  That group left Columbia today and plans to focus on quake victims with facial trauma.