Women Who #ChooseToChallenge
![Mamta Carroll smiling and waving](/sites/default/files/styles/3_2__720x480/public/2023-05/mamta-carrol-smiling-5050.jpg?itok=vcJsPudx)
Smile Train is proud to be associated with many women SmileMakers who not only break gender barriers every day, but also lead our programs to provide exceptional safe and high-quality cleft care with compassion and empathy.
This International Women’s Day, our female SmileMakers — including team members, partner medical practitioners and former cleft patients raised their hand to #ChooseToChallenge not only the gender inequality faced by women, but the stigma associated with cleft lip and palate. Here’s what they had to say:
“I am Mamta Carroll and I #ChooseToChallenge every day, by delivering my best — as an individual, as a professional, as a woman. I strive to create an atmosphere and a system of inclusion, diversity, equity and empowerment for everyone regardless of gender. As a woman, I believe in and draw upon my innate compassion, my ability to nurture and nourish and my desire to co-create a better world.”
- Mamta Carroll, Vice President and Regional Director - Asia, Smile Train.
![Dr Ankita Midha smiling](/sites/default/files/2023-05/Dr%20Ankita%20Midha.jpg)
“In a world full of male surgeons skeptical of my skills, I chose to rise as a determined and dynamic surgeon to give the brightest of smiles and joy to all my cleft patients and their mothers! I am Dr Ankita Midha and I #ChooseToChallenge the stigma around cleft lip and palate.
Dr Ankita Midha, Partner Surgeon, Cleft Program at Shanku’s Hospital, Mehsana, Gujarat.
![Payal Ahuja smiling](/sites/default/files/2023-05/IMG-2316.jpg)
“Although it's a proven fact that clefts can be caused due to reasons that are not controlled by anyone, there are instances where a father abandons the child and the mother because of this birth difference. I choose to challenge such beliefs by being a part of the Smile Train programme. I am Payal Ahuja and I #ChooseToChallenge the stigma around cleft lip and palate.”
- Payal Ahuja, Partner Speech Language Pathologist, Cleft Program at Vivekananda Polyclinic, Lucknow.
![Dr Vibha Naik smiling](/sites/default/files/2023-05/Dr-Vibha-Naik-smiling.jpg)
“Avoid the blunder, ignore the gender...each face is beautiful when you restore the splendour. I am Dr Vibhavari Naik and I #ChooseToChallenge the stigma around cleft lip and palate.”
- Dr Vibhavari Naik, Partner Anaesthelologist, Cleft Program at Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana.
![Dr Kangjam Lakshmi smiling](/sites/default/files/2023-05/Dr%20Kangjam%20Lakshmi.jpg)
“As a former cleft patient as well as a female doctor, I have overcome a lot of stigma in society. However, I acknowledge all the challenges as blessings, because they made me who I am today. I am Dr Kangjam Lakshmi and I #ChooseToChallenge the stigma around cleft lip and palate.”
- Dr Kangjam Lakshmi, Former Cleft Patient and Doctor, Cleft Program at Shija Hospitals, Imphal, Manipur
![Dr V. H. Savitha smiling on International Womens' Day](/sites/default/files/2023-05/Dr%20Savitha%20IWD%20pic.jpg)
“I am proud to be a woman and a speech language pathologist providing cleft care for individuals across India. I am equal to and can fulfil the professional roles as efficiently as any male colleague in my team. I am V. H. Savitha and I #ChooseToChallenge the stigma around cleft lip and palate.”
- Dr V. H. Savitha, Speech and Language Expert, India Medical Advisory Council and Smile Train Research and Innovation Advisory Council Member
![Sheila Koyanna smiling](/sites/default/files/2023-05/Sheila%20Koyyana.jpg)
“When I joined Smile Train, I became part of an incredible group of amazing women for whom no task is too tough and no hurdle too high - we work together to change India, one smile at a time!”
- Sheila Koyanna, Program Manager, Smile Train India
Smile Train can provide life-changing cleft support only because of the kind contributions of people like you.
Our impact in India
as of May 2023