William P. Magee Jr., D.D.S., M.D., a leading plastic and craniofacial surgeon, founded Operation Smile in 1982 with his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, B.S.N., M.Ed., M.S.W.

Operation Smile is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization providing reconstructive surgery and related health care to indigent children and young adults in developing countries and the United States.

 

Dr. Magee devotes half of his professional life as a volunteer for Operation Smile, performing reconstructive surgery on several overseas missions each year.

 

In addition to providing surgery, Dr. Magee also helps train international physicians in craniofacial techniques through Operation Smile's annual Physicians' Training Program.

 

In 1999, the Magees envisioned and launched World Journey of Hope '99, the largest surgical mission in history dedicated to correcting facial deformities among some of the world's neediest children. The nine-week mission, the first-ever of its kind, transformed the lives of more than 5,300 children and young adults in 17 developing countries and in 10 cities across the United States.

 

Dr. Magee's work on behalf of children around the world has led to the receipt of numerous awards and honors including the first $1 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 1996 for "...exemplary and significant contributions to ease human suffering" and the Servants of Peace Award from the UN representative to the Vatican in 1997. In 1999, the Magees received the Golden Plate Award "representing the many who excel in the great fields of endeavor" by the American Academy of Achievement. In April 2001, he and Ms. Magee were awarded a 2001 Commonwealth Award of Distinguished Service for outstanding achievement in public service. And in November 2001, Operation Smile received the Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for Exceptional Endeavors of Outstanding Moral and Humanitarian Value by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which represents the National Academy of Science in Italy.

 

 

Dr. Magee also received The American Medical Association's Pride in the Profession Award for 2000 and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 1998. He holds honorary degrees from Fordham University, Mount St. Mary's College, Loyola College, Old Dominion University, Villanova University and Denison University. Dr. Magee has written numerous articles for scientific journals and has contributed chapters for books.

 

 

In addition, Dr. Magee has been the keynote speaker at national conferences, events and ceremonies. In June 2000, he addressed more than 1,200 delegates from 50 countries and regions around the world on "Information Technology for Better Health Care," at the World Congress on Information Technology in Taipei, Taiwan. In 1997, he held the Kazanjian Lectureship, an honorary lecture to the entire membership of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in San Francisco. Dr. Magee has delivered several colleges and medical school commencement addresses and is actively involved in inspirational and motivational speaking in the corporate sector.

He also has made appearances on "NBC Nightly News", "Dateline NBC", "Leeza", "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", "Hour of Power", "48 Hours", "CBS Sunday Morning" and CBS's "Touched by an Angel". The Magees also have been featured in "People Magazine", "Time" , "Ladies' Home Journal",  "Southern Living", "Biography" and numerous other publications.

 

 

A New Jersey native, Dr. Magee received his Bachelor of Science degree from Mount St. Mary's College in Maryland, his D.D.S. from the University of Maryland and his M.D. from George Washington University Medical School. He served his general surgery residency at the University of Virginia Medical School. Dr. Magee was awarded the Hays-Fulbright Scholar Grant from the Franco-American Commission where he studied with Dr. Paul Tessier, the father of craniofacial surgery. He also did advanced studies in his field in Switzerland, Germany and Scotland. Dr. Magee completed his plastic surgery residency at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine in 1978. He served as president of the Virginia Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons from '91-'93.

 

Dr. Magee serves as chairman and lifetime member of Operation Smile's Board of Directors. He is in private practice in Norfolk, Va., and also serves as the director of the Institute for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery and as chief of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk. In addition, he is associate professor of plastic surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Magee also serves on the Board of Directors for talksurgery.com. The Magees reside in Norfolk and have five children, all of whom have served on medical missions and are active in volunteer work for Operation Smile.

 

Hence, Dr.Magee is truly worthy of being awarded the Hamdan Award for Volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Services