Core Curriculum Outline
The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) believes that children born with clefts and other craniofacial anomalies are provided optimum care when they are assessed and treated by a team of specialists with expertise in a variety of areas. Health care specialties involved with the care of clefts and other craniofacial anomalies include audiology, genetics, nursing, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, pediatric dentistry, plastic surgery, psychology and clinical social work, and speech-language pathology.
This core curriculum was created by the Education Committee of ACPA to be used as a guide for educators in these various disciplines, when planning the essential parts of their curriculum related to cleft and craniofacial anomalies. It was developed after a survey by ACPA of educators in these disciplines showed a need for such an outline. The Core Curriculum is not intended to cover all possible aspects of cleft and craniofacial management. Rather, it is intended to provide an outline of services that are appropriate for most children affected by these disorders.
The Core Curriculum is divided into two broad sections. The first covers the basics of interdisciplinary team care, classification of craniofacial anomalies, craniofacial development and etiology. The second section covers the role of each discipline in the care of a patient with a cleft or craniofacial anomaly. It is organized by patient age, within each discipline, and covers the essential aspects and knowledge bases that are essential for providing adequate care. Just as in a team there may be overlap between specialists in their observations, core knowledge and treatment expertise, this core curriculum reflects some overlap between specialties in these areas.