Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital

08/31/2026

We are incredibly proud to announce that Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital will host the Florida Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Annual Meeting in February 2027! 🎉

We couldn’t be more excited to showcase what makes our program so special!

At Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, cleft and craniofacial care is truly a team sport. Our nationally recognized multidisciplinary team brings together experts in plastic surgery, audiology, orthodontics, dentistry, speech-language pathology, pediatrics, nutrition, and other specialties—all working together under one roof with one goal: Giving every child the best possible outcome.

Our team doesn’t just treat a cleft lip or palate—we care for the whole child and the whole family. From the first visit through years of growth and development, we coordinate care, anticipate what comes next, and tailor treatment to each child’s unique needs.

🏆 Exceptional multidisciplinary care
🧡 Family-centered treatment
🧠 Innovation and research
🗣️ Focus on speech, feeding, hearing, and function
✨ Attention to both form and function
🤝 A team that works together every step of the way

Our patients and families are at the center of everything we do.
We are proud of the outcomes we achieve, proud of the expertise we bring together, and incredibly proud of the families who trust us with their children.

Hosting the Florida Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association meeting gives us the opportunity to share our experience, learn from other exceptional teams across Florida, and continue pushing the field forward.

We can’t wait to welcome our colleagues to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in February 2027!

08/20/2026

💙 If your child has a cleft or craniofacial condition, you don't have to navigate the journey alone.

Questions about surgery? Feeding? Development? What's next?

Our Pediatric Plastic & Cleft/Craniofacial Surgery team at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is here to guide families through every stage of care—with specialized expertise and a whole-team approach designed around your child.

✨ Specialized pediatric expertise
✨ Comprehensive cleft & craniofacial care, with an ACPA-approved team
✨ Collaboration across specialties
✨ Care that puts children and families first

Visit our website for more information: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/all-childrens-hospital/services/plastic-reconstructive-surgery

Or, for more detailed information about the conditions that we treat, visit our video library: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/all-childrens-hospital/services/plastic-reconstructive-surgery/pediatric-plastic-surgery-video-library

For all current patients and families- please feel free to pass along our team information to your friends, family, pediatrician office, and anyone else in need of pediatric plastic surgery and/or cleft care!

Learn about conditions and procedures related to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital with our surgeons, Alex Rottgers, M.D. and Jordan Halsey, M.D.

07/07/2026

July is Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month! 💙⭐

If you're visiting Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital this month, be sure to stop by and check out our special bulletin board display celebrating Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month! Created to raise awareness and celebrate the children and families we are privileged to serve, the display highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care, hope, and support for patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial differences.

Our ACPA Approved Cleft & Craniofacial Team is dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive care from infancy through adolescence. With experts in pediatric plastic surgery, speech-language pathology, orthodontics, dentistry, audiology, genetics, psychology, nursing, and more, we work together to help every child reach their fullest potential.

This month, we celebrate the courage of our patients, the strength of their families, and the teamwork that makes a difference every day. Thank you to everyone who helped create this beautiful display and for helping us spread awareness throughout our hospital!

Together, we're raising awareness, inspiring hope, and changing lives—one smile at a time. 💙

07/02/2026

July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month!

National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month began through the efforts of ACPA members who recognized the importance of raising awareness, improving access to care, and supporting individuals with cleft and craniofacial conditions and their families. Today, we're proud to continue that legacy.

One of the best ways to get involved this month is by participating in an ACPA Virtual Race Challenge! Walk or run to help raise awareness and support ACPA's mission to advance comprehensive, interdisciplinary team-based care.

🏃 Register today and make every mile count! https://bit.ly/3PX0NCp

💬 How are you recognizing National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month? Tell us below!

Together, we can raise awareness, advocate for quality care, and strengthen the cleft and craniofacial community.

06/25/2026

✨ Comprehensive Cleft and 22q Care, Close to Home ✨

At Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, we are proud to be a center of excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD), a condition that can affect speech, feeding, and quality of life for children with cleft palate, submucous cleft palate, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Our multidisciplinary team brings together pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeons, speech-language pathologists, geneticists, otolaryngologists, psychologists, and other specialists to provide personalized, family-centered care. From diagnosis through treatment and long-term follow-up, we are committed to helping every child reach their fullest potential.

Our dedication extends beyond the clinic and operating room. We are continually advancing the field through research aimed at improving outcomes for children with cleft and craniofacial conditions. A recent example is our newly published review article, “Beyond Velopharyngeal Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Review of Pathology Associated With Submucous Cleft Palate,” authored by members of our team. This work highlights the complex challenges associated with submucous cleft palate and emphasizes the importance of early recognition, comprehensive evaluation, and multidisciplinary care.

For families navigating a diagnosis of cleft palate, submucous cleft palate, or 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, know that our team is here to provide expert care, innovative treatment options, and compassionate support every step of the way.

💙 Together, we are advancing care through clinical excellence, research, and a commitment to improving the lives of children and families.

06/03/2026

Celebrating Our Pediatricians! 🩺💙

As part of our ACPA-approved multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial team, our pediatricians Dr. Montes and Dr. Abello play vital roles in helping children grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

From monitoring growth and development to coordinating care, addressing medical concerns, and supporting families throughout their journey, pediatricians are an essential part of comprehensive cleft and craniofacial care. Their expertise helps ensure that every child receives personalized, whole-person care at every stage of life.

We are grateful for the dedication, compassion, and partnership of our pediatric colleagues who work alongside our surgeons, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, dentists, orthodontists, psychologists, nurses, and many others to provide the highest level of care for our patients and families.

Thank you to all the pediatricians who help make multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial care possible. Your commitment makes a lasting difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. 💙

05/18/2026

Yesterday, the Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital 22q Deletion Team had an incredible time hosting our “22q at the Zoo” event at ZooTampa at Lowry Park! 🦒🦓🧁

We loved spending time with our patients and families, sharing cupcakes, connecting with one another, and building community before everyone enjoyed a fun-filled day exploring the zoo together. Events like these remind us how important support, connection, and multidisciplinary care are for children and families affected by 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Our dedicated 22q Team at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is proud to provide comprehensive, family-centered care for patients with 22q diagnoses, bringing together specialists across multiple disciplines to support each child’s unique needs.

Thank you to all the families who joined us and helped make the day so special — we can’t wait for the next one! 💙

22q Tampa Bay Families and Friends
The International 22q11.2 Foundation
22q Florida (22q, VCFS, DiGeorge) Group
The 22q Family Foundation
















To learn more about our 22q clinic and team, visit: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/all-childrens-hospital/services/plastic-reconstructive-surgery/conditions-we-treat/22q-deletion-digeorge-syndrome-clinic

05/08/2026

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, we’re proud to celebrate the incredible role communication plays in every child’s growth, confidence, and connection with the world.

For children with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial differences, speech, hearing, and feeding are often important parts of their care journey. That’s why our multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial team brings together surgeons, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, psychologists, orthodontists, nurses, and many other specialists—all working together to help every child thrive.

This month, we recognize the dedication of the speech and hearing professionals who help our patients find their voices, build communication skills, and reach important milestones every day.

💙 Here’s to celebrating every voice, every milestone, and every story.

04/22/2026

Our team is inspired by the incredible story of Dr. Rottgers' patient Jasmine Ramirez 💙. She was recently honored during our Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital centennial celebration after she underwent a life-changing amputation surgery this year, led by Dr. Rottgers. Despite her challenges, she continues to show remarkable strength, resilience, and courage—serving as an inspiration to so many in our community.

Her journey is a reminder of the resilience our patients and families demonstrate every day, and the importance of compassionate, multidisciplinary care in helping them thrive.

📖 Read more about her story here: https://www.mysuncoast.com/2026/04/19/bradenton-teen-honored-hospital-centennial-after-life-changing-amputation/

Jasmine Ramirez, 14, spoke at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital's 100th anniversary celebration

04/15/2026

Did you know our Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgeons, Dr. Rottgers and Dr. Halsey, have created a video library just for our patients and families?

These short, easy-to-understand videos cover many of the conditions we treat and are designed to help you feel more informed and supported along the way.

Explore our video library and learn more here:

Learn about conditions and procedures related to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital with our surgeons, Alex Rottgers, M.D. and Jordan Halsey, M.D.