In addition to his scientific and clinical achievements, Prof. Dr. Dr. Hermann F. Sailer is above all a profoundly humanitarian person. With the foundation he established, Cleft-Children International CCI, he created a worldwide network that provides medical care where it would otherwise be unavailable. At its heart are children born with severe craniofacial malformations – children who, through his work, have regained not only their appearance but also the ability to speak, to eat, and ultimately to live a life of dignity.
Founded in 2000, CCI pursues a humanitarian goal that is as simple as it is profound: to provide help where it is needed most – especially for children with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies.
CCI operates specialized treatment facilities (“Cleft Centers”) in India – including Mangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, and Malakkara – as well as in other countries such as Pakistan (Lahore) and Nepal (Kathmandu). In these centers, free surgeries are performed according to the highest medical standards.
The foundation for this is the “Sailer Protocol” developed by Prof. Sailer, which provides precise guidelines for diagnostics, timing, surgical techniques, and follow-up care. This ensures consistently high-quality treatment worldwide – regardless of location.
The foundation views treatment as a holistic process that extends far beyond surgery. From their first operation through to adulthood – typically up to the age of 18 – children receive ongoing medical care. In addition to surgical procedures, this includes regular check-ups, speech and swallowing therapy, orthodontic treatment, and psychosocial support for both children and their families.
This continuous care promotes not only physical healing but also social and emotional integration. Naturally, adult patients with facial anomalies are also treated.
A core principle of CCI is sustainability. To ensure that help does not remain dependent on outside support, local doctors, nurses, and therapists are specifically trained and further qualified. Through practical training, clinical placements, and knowledge transfer from Switzerland and other countries, an independent culture of care is gradually established in the partner regions.
For decades, Prof. Sailer shaped the high standards of his foundation through personal missions and surgical courses he conducted himself.
In this spirit, he also developed the concept of the Fellowship Program, which provides young local maxillofacial surgeons with thorough theoretical and practical training in the complex field of craniofacial malformations.
This principle – “help for self-help” – frees the foundation from reliance on short-term missions and enables a lasting improvement of medical structures.
CCI sets benchmarks in quality assurance. All surgeries and therapies are carried out according to scientifically proven standards. In addition, the foundation supports clinical research – for example, on prevalence, genetic factors, and anatomical characteristics of cleft lip and palate.
By publishing studies and developing standardized protocols, CCI makes a significant contribution to the establishment of uniform global standards. Every year, under the leadership of Prof. Sailer, scientific papers are published from each of his Cleft Centers.
As an internationally active organization, CCI promotes interdisciplinary exchange between surgeons, orthodontists, and speech therapists. This is achieved through congresses, training programs, and the publication of specialist articles and databases.
Through its growing network of “Centers of Excellence” best practices are shared, ensuring that treatment quality is raised to a consistently high level worldwide.
Since its founding, the foundation has enabled more than 110,000 treatments – fundamentally transforming the lives of children and their families. The commitment of Prof. Sailer and his team go far beyond surgical medicine: it brings hope, social inclusion, and the chance for a future in which these children are no longer marginalized.
“Each of these children is a human being with a destiny. We do not simply repair tissue – we create opportunities for an entire lifetime.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. Hermann F. Sailer
The humanitarian mission of Cleft-Children International CCI would be unthinkable without Dr. h.c. Erika Sailer. With compassion, determination, and great passion, she dedicated herself to giving children with cleft lip and palate in developing countries new opportunities for a healthy life.
Through her involvement, not only were life-saving operations made possible, but also sustainable structures: she supported the establishment of treatment centers, the training of local medical professionals, and the strengthening of regional healthcare systems. Her approach was always long-term – help should not fade in the moment but create lasting improvements.
With deep empathy and firm conviction, she inspired people to join the cause and helped form an international network. She was far more than a supporter: a visionary, a shaper, and an inspiration whose impact extends far beyond medicine.
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