Our History

“Austin Smiles’ guiding principle has always been to offer services where needed regardless of any reward, and to treat all patients to the best of our capability regardless of ability to pay.” – Dr. Jim Cullington, Founding Member
In 1985 and 1986, three of the first plastic surgeons in Austin, Texas – Dr. Patrick Beckham, Dr. Jim Cullington, and Dr. Jim Fox – came together, sharing their experiences doing medical mission work around the world. They wanted to advance their passion for volunteerism in the local Austin community. After a local measure was passed providing that all Austin doctors receive compensation for their “on-call” time, the three doctors felt inspired to start their philanthropic initiative with this unexpected, “extra” funding. Working with fellow doctors in the Austin Society of Plastic Surgeons and pooling these funds, the idea to provide free cleft lip/palate surgery came together in 1987. Austin Smiles – The Austin Plastic Surgery Foundation officially received its 501(c)3 nonprofit certification.
The founding members of Austin Smiles include Dr. Jim Cullington, Dr. Patrick Beckham, Dr. Jim Fox, Dr. William Barnes, Jr., Dr. Robert Clement, Dr. William Davis, Dr. Robert Ersek, Dr. William Gorman, Dr. Victor LiPalaez, Dr. Francis Morris, Dr. N.D. Moscoe, Dr. Richard Parker, Dr. David Turner, and Dr. Alfred Wilder. Austin Smiles started out doing local surgeries and supporting Austin’s Central Texas Cleft Lip and Palate Team. In 1988 the organization began going on mission trips to repair cleft lip/palate in Mexico. Since our inception, we have served over 5,000 patients and conducted over 100 medical trips to many countries including Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. Austin Smiles is proud to have served under this principle for over 30 years.
austin-smiles-our-history-founding-doctors

Austin Smiles is excited to receive invitations from countries all over the world. Our predominant partnerships are in El Salvador, Guatemala, & Mexico.
Here are some communities we’ve served since 1987.

Cool Timeline

1987
1988
Brazil

Lives Changed: 24

Philippines

Lives Changed: 20

Parral, Mexico

Lives Changed: 57

Saltillo, Mexico

Lives Changed: 25

1989
Parral, Mexico

Lives Changed: 73

Saltillo, Mexico

Lives Changed: 66

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Lives Changed: 11

Saltillo, Mexico

Lives Changed: 57

1990
Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Lives Changed: 9

Guatemala

Lives Changed: 25

Queretaro, Mexico

Lives Changed: 21

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 72

1991
Saltillo, Mexico
Austin Smiles - Our History - Timeline 1991 photo

Lives Changed: 54

Chiapas, Mexico

Lives Changed: 64

Chiapas, Mexico

Lives Changed: 23

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 75

1992
Chiapas, Mexico

Lives Changed: 73

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 54

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 78

1993
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 67

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 80

Quito, Ecuador

Lives Changed: 54

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 72

1994
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 81

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 83

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 77

1995
San Salvador, El Salvador
Austin Smiles - Our History - Timeline 1994 photo

Lives Changed: 72

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 66

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 79

1996
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 64

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 67

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 63

1997
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 65

Saltillo, Mexico

Lives Changed: 11

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 41

1998
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 53

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 52

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 79

1999
San Salvador, El Salvador
Austin Smiles - Our History - Timeline 1998 photo

Lives Changed: 73

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 79

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 73

2000
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 62

Sobral, Brazil

Lives Changed: 33

2001
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 120

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 55

2002
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 19

Havana, Cuba

Lives Changed: 14

Ponape, Micronesia

Lives Changed: 9

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 65

2003
Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 70

San Salvador, El Salvador
Austin Smiles - Our History - Timeline 2003 photo

Lives Changed: 38

Havana, Cuba

Lives Changed: 12

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 50

2004
Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 70

Havana, Cuba

Lives Changed: 20

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 40

2005
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 69

Havana, Cuba

Lives Changed: 20

Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 65

2006
Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 60

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 50

Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Lives Changed: 14

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 80

2007
Havana, Cuba

Lives Changed: 24

Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 50

2008
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 60

Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 50

2009
San Salvador, El Salvador
Austin Smiles - Our History - Timeline 2009 photo

Lives Changed: 44

Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 44

2010
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 48

2011
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 49

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 64

2012
Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Lives Changed: 29

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 47

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 51

2013
San Salvador, El Salvador
Austin Smiles - Our History - Timeline 2013 photo

Lives Changed: 74

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 63

2014
Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 53

San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 41

Puebla, Mexico

Lives Changed: 27

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 49

2015
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 46

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 52

2016
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 43

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 71

2017
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 64

Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 52

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 37

2018
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 48

Veracruz, Mexico

Lives Changed: 50

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 35

2019
San Salvador, El Salvador

Lives Changed: 32

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 48

2020
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 85

2021
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Lives Changed: 75

2022
San Salvador, El Salvador

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wl2kKemEd4[/embed] Lives Changed: 42+ Our talented surgeons, anesthesiologists, CRNA’s, speech pathologists, ENT, nurses, and non-medical staff worked tirelessly throughout the entire trip. Together we evaluated 42 patients, provided 50 surgical procedures, and transformed the lives of 30 children and adults born with cleft lip & palate. Thank you to Club…
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Guatemala City, Guatemala

[embed]https://youtu.be/sTFCk8UE3hU[/embed] Close to 100 lives changed! Guatemala 2022   That's a wrap on Guatemala 2022! With the help of our volunteers, sponsors and donors - close to 100 lives were changed by free surgical, dental and speech care. See the breakdown below: 57 patients triaged and assessed on screening day…
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2023
San Salvador, El Salvador

[embed]https://youtu.be/VFgD_sIcw-w[/embed] Our team of 35 Medical & Non-Medical volunteers came together for a week of life-changing surgeries and services for children and adults born with cleft lip and/or palate. Our team was comprised of talented plastic surgeons, an ENT, anesthesiologists, CRNAs, dentists, an SLP, nurses, CST's and other non-medical volunteers…
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Austin Smiles - Our History - photo collage
Austin Smiles - Our History - Our Team photo

Our Board

Learn about Austin Smiles Leadership

Austin Smiles - Our History - Our Local Services photo

Our Local Services

Austin Smiles local impact for children and families in Central Texas

Austin Smiles - Our History - Our Medical Mission Trips photo

Our Medical Mission Trips

Austin Smiles takes 2-3 medical mission trips annually