By Dr. Hannah Bergman & Katie Manning
Cleft conditions affect millions of children worldwide, yet the conversation around cleft often remains narrowly framed around surgery and physical repair. What is less visible, but equally important, is the impact on mental health, self-image, and social inclusion. Together with Katie Manning, artist, trauma coach, and creator of the 100 Cleft Portraits exhibition, we are working to change that narrative.
The exhibition, which debuted in London last summer, has been described by attendees as the first time they had seen cleft represented without stigma, pity, or purely surgical framing. By focusing on identity, belonging, and lived experience, the exhibition fosters dialogue around resilience, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing for children and young people with cleft.
After witnessing the transformative power of Katie’s work, we are thrilled to announce that the 100 Cleft Portraits US Tour will travel to twelve major children’s hospitals and cleft centers in July and August 2026, presented by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.
This tour will share 100 portraits and stories of individuals born with cleft, helping to shift the lens from “defect needing repair” to human experience, hope, and connection.
Gareth Presch, CEO of WHIS, emphasizes:
“The 100 Cleft Portraits US Tour illustrates how art, lived experience, and clinical insight can unite to create a model of care that is preventive, inclusive, and globally scalable. This approach has the potential to transform not only how we treat cleft but how we nurture children’s mental health and resilience everywhere.”
Beyond the exhibition, we are developing a multi-site research initiative to evaluate its impact on children, families, healthcare providers, and communities. We aim to measure outcomes such as:
Internalized stigma and shame
Self-image and sense of identity
Hope, belonging, and social connection
Perceived safety and trust in clinical environments
This initiative also integrates mindfulness-based and trauma-informed interventions for pediatric patients and families, creating a holistic approach that complements surgical care.
Our vision is to build a sustainable, global framework for cleft care that goes beyond repair:
Combining arts, psychosocial support, and clinical expertise to reduce stigma and promote mental wellbeing
Creating scalable, community-focused programs that can be implemented in hospitals and care centers worldwide
Generating data and evidence to inform policy, social prescribing, and non-
pharmacological interventions in pediatric health
The 100 Cleft Portraits US Tour is an invitation to partners, organizations, and sponsors to help shape this vision. By investing in innovative, holistic, and sustainable approaches, we can create lasting impact for children with cleft globally, ensuring they are seen, supported, and celebrated for who they are—not just the condition they live with.
We believe collaboration is key: when clinical expertise, arts, and community advocacy come together, the potential to reimagine pediatric healthcare and mental health support is enormous.
If you would like to support this initiative, please contact us to explore partnership or sponsorship opportunities.
With warm regards, Dr. Hannah Bergman Pediatric Cleft & Craniofacial Surgeon Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City hjbergman@cmh.edu
Katie Manning Artist, Trauma Coach, Creator of 100 Cleft Portraits katie@katiemanning.co.uk