25 years of Smile House Fondazione ETS: a network of excellence unique in Italy for the treatment of facial malformations

A virtuous system between the National Health Service, Ministries, Universities and supporters: the collaborative model behind the Foundation’s successes, with over 100,000 patients assisted in 25 years. n

Roma, 7 May 2025

For a quarter of a century, Smile House Fondazione ETS has been dedicated to caring for patients born with craniomaxillofacial malformations, with a specific focus on cleft lip and palate. Founded with the mission of offering accessible, multidisciplinary and personalised care from prenatal diagnosis through to the completion of psycho-physical development, the Foundation has created a care model that is unique in Italy.

To celebrate this important milestone, the institutional ceremony was held today at the Chamber of Deputies. Speakers included the Hon. Giorgio Mulè, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, who emphasised that “In these 25 years of Smile House Fondazione ETS lie the spirit and the essence of a commitment that becomes social responsibility and concrete action towards those most in need. Quite simply, an example” and Dr Marina Elvira Calderone, Minister of Labour and Social Policies, who highlighted how “For 25 years Smile House Fondazione ETS has protected children and their parents, representing a virtuous model within our country, with a medical, surgical, psychological and economic pathway that ensures effective and complete health and social care”. The Hon. Guido Crosetto, Minister of Defence, concluded the institutional addresses by pointing out: “The values that guide us, service, dedication and a spirit of sacrifice, are the same ones that inspire all of you at Smile House Fondazione ETS. As the Ministry of Defence, we are honoured to walk alongside you”. Also in attendance was the lawyer Andrea Catizone, Adviser to the Minister of University and Research.

The operational heart of the Foundation is the Smile House Network: 8 Centres across the whole country (4 surgical Hubs in Roma, Vicenza, Pisa, Monza and 4 outpatient Spokes in Cagliari, Taranto, Ancona, Catania) established thanks to consolidated partnerships with facilities of the National Health Service. This network is founded on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health, in force since 2008 and renewed in 2022, which sets out the programmatic framework for guaranteeing a complete care pathway, from prenatal diagnosis to adulthood, and for promoting scientific research into the technologies, protocols and causes of these malformations. The Foundation also works closely with other key institutions such as the Ministry of Defence (the Italian Navy and the Defence General Secretariat/DNA), La Sapienza University of Roma and the University of L’Aquila. The maintenance and development of this complex operational structure, including its research and training activities, are made possible thanks to the support of private donations, grant-making foundations and targeted partnerships.

“2025 marks 25 years of commitment during which we have turned an idea into a network of Centres of Excellence,” commented Stefano Zapponini, President of Smile House Fondazione ETS. “We look to the future with the desire to grow further, expand our network and make excellence ever more accessible, with the support of those who believe in healthcare that is innovative and close to people”.

The impact of the work carried out over these 25 years is borne out by the numbers: over 100,000 patients have been taken into care and treated in total by the Foundation, both through the 8 Centres of the national Network and thanks to the commitment of volunteers on international missions. A significant figure that confirms the ongoing relevance of the model is that in 2023 alone, 65% of children born in Italy with cleft lip and palate were treated at one of the Smile House Centres. This confirms that the path taken by the Foundation is the right one and demonstrates the value of a virtuous system, that of the Smile House Network, which, acting in support of the National Health Service, places the patient and their family at its heart, minimising healthcare migration while guaranteeing the best possible care directly within local communities, faithful to its mission: “Before, during and after treatment, wherever you are”.

The commitment of Smile House Fondazione ETS reaches beyond national borders. The Foundation assists patients in its own Centres who come from countries that lack adequate conditions for care, and it operates directly in international settings, such as the missions aboard the Italian Navy’s ship Cavour. Building on a validated care protocol, the Foundation is working to replicate it abroad as well: agreements are already active in India, Pakistan and Colombia, where the Smile House model is being applied successfully to guarantee the universal right to care and to super-specialist training.

“Over these 25 years we have built a community of care that places the patient and their family at its heart”, added Domenico Scopelliti, Founder and Vice President of Smile House Fondazione ETS. “Our aim is to strengthen the network, invest in training and research, improve integration between the Centres and continue to counter healthcare migration. Every patient deserves to be cared for close to home, with professionalism and expertise until the end of their growth”.

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The Smile House Fondazione ETS, which boasts 25 years of experience in the field of facial malformations, has established outpatient and surgical care Centres, SMILE HOUSE precisely, hence the name, set up within a number of Italian hospitals, thanks to a memorandum of understanding signed with the Ministry of Health back in May 2008 and most recently renewed on 22 September 2022. The creation of a national network ensures that patients are taken into care from prenatal diagnosis until the end of their psycho-physical development, accompanying them along a multi-year, multi-specialist care pathway towards the patient’s genuine social integration.

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Mailander Press Office for Smile House Fondazione ETS

Damir Biuklic 347.6823883 | d.biuklic@mailander.itnValentina Castiglia 339.2992236 | v.castiglia@mailander.itnAnna Tomba 346.0850749 | a.tomba@mailander.itnFabio Dell’Olio 327.8318829 | f.dellolio@mailander.it