Dr. Sawh-Martinez with patient.

Where Your Child’s Health Is in Good Hands

At AdventHealth for Children, we have been caring for kids with complex craniofacial needs from all over the world for more than 25 years. Our innovative AdventHealth for Children Cleft and Craniofacial Center is among a few elite programs in Florida that employ state-of-the-art surgical techniques, including minimally invasive procedures, virtual surgical planning and 3D printing.

However, we believe that feeling whole means much more than mending the body. It’s about building a true relationship with each family and child we serve, and delivering personalized care that helps that child to grow emotionally and spiritually, too.

So, when a craniofacial deformity, injury or condition affects your child’s health or well-being, our experienced multidisciplinary team is here to restore their health, function and positive self-image with great skill and compassion.

Our pediatric plastic surgeons are ready to help your child smile again. To get started, request an appointment and our Nurse Care Coordinator will contact you.

Our Programs and Services

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  • Cleft Lip and Palate Program

    Cleft lip and palate affects thousands of babies each year. When it’s your child, you want answers and specialized care. We offer sophisticated repair techniques and will work in partnership with you to create a personalized plan that’s best for your baby.

  • Craniofacial Syndromes and Related Conditions

    Our team is experienced in treating many complex and rare syndromes that cause craniofacial abnormalities and asymmetries. We’ll apply our expertise and work closely with your family to determine the best path forward for your child.

  • Craniosynostosis and Plagiocephaly Program

    If you have concerns about your baby's head shape in the womb or after birth, we offer cutting-edge approaches and individualized treatment plans to achieve the best results. If required, your child will work with a multidisciplinary team of experts to ensure the best quality of care.

  • Head and Neck Tumor Program

    When your child needs head and neck tumor care, it's important to seek out a provider who specializes in pediatric care. Our head and neck tumor program combines the expertise of plastic surgery, otolaryngology and oncology to ensure your child's treatment is specific to them and their growing bodies.

  • Maxillofacial Trauma and Orthognathic Surgery

    Help your child’s self-confidence shine. Whatever the causes of facial, dental or jaw imbalances, our multidisciplinary team focuses on restoring function and symmetry through delivering comprehensive, customized, compassionate care.

  • Pediatric Plastic Surgery Program

    Whether your child has been impacted by an accident, illness or birth defect, our experts are dedicated to finding solutions. We treat complex injuries, vascular malformations, vascular tumors and concerning moles in children of all ages. You can count on us to heal your child’s body, mind and spirit with state-of-the-art techniques and unparalleled care.

  • Why Choose Us

    You want the best for your child. From providing you with a personal Nurse Care Coordinator to delivering innovative and customized surgical approaches that optimize outcomes to researching new ways to improve care, our expert team is committed to helping your child heal.

Joseph Lopez
Welcome Dr. Joseph Lopez

Pediatric Head and Neck Tumor Program

We are excited to announce the addition of Joseph Lopez, MD, MBA, Chief of Pediatric Head and Neck Surgery, who has joined the pediatric plastic surgery team to provide his expertise and care to children not only with craniofacial/cleft needs but also children who suffer from head and neck tumors. Dr. Lopez is the only fellowship-trained head and neck surgical oncologist and a pediatric craniofacial surgeon in the country, having completed two fellowship at world-renown institutions. As a craniofacial surgeon, Dr. Lopez believes that all children with craniofacial/cleft conditions deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential socially and functionally. And as a pediatric surgical oncologist, he believes in not only providing children with a tumor-free life, but also providing surgical care that allows for a child's body to grow and develop as natural and undisturbed as possible. Dr. Lopez is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Learn more about Dr. Lopez

New Patient Forms

To help you feel better prepared and spend less time filling out paperwork at your appointment, please download, print and fill out these forms. Thank you for bringing them with you to your appointment.

Meet Our Medical Director

Raj Sawh-Martinez, MD, MHS, FACS serves as the Medical Director for Pediatric Plastic Surgery and leads our team within the Cleft and Craniofacial Program within AdventHealth for Children. Learn more about his care philosophy and how he cares for children's plastic surgery needs.

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) logo.

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA)

AdventHealth for Children is an ACPA Approved Team and has met the Standards of Team Care for Cleft and Craniofacial Teams set by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). The ACPA Commission on the Approval of Teams has determined that AdventHealth for Children is capable of providing cleft and craniofacial care in a coordinated and consistent manner, that care provided by AdventHealth for Children follows the proper sequence and takes place within the framework of the patient’s overall developmental, medical and psychological needs. All approved teams in the U.S. and Canada are listed on the ACPA website.

Dax Slate

Innovative Treatment That Saved a Newborn's Life

One mom’s birth experience took a heartbreaking turn when her baby was born missing the backside of his skull’s skin and bone. Faced with the unimaginable, she and her baby were transported to AdventHealth for Children where our team of expert neuro and plastic surgeons were met with a scenario they had never encountered. After being a part of this family’s journey for over a year, we’re excited to share their awe-inspiring story and amazing transformation.

Expert Care and Compassion

Meet our Team

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  • James Baumgartner, MD

    James Edmund Baumgartner, MD

    Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery

  • Luz Diaz

    Luz Diaz, PA-C

    Pediatric Plastic Surgery

  • Stephanie Jerome, PhD

    Stephanie Jerome, PhD

    Pediatric Neuropsychology

  • Elaina J

    Elaina Joachim, MSW, RCSWI

    Multidisciplinary Social Worker

  • Jennifer Ketchersid, NP, S

    Jennifer Ketchersid, APRN

    Complex Care Pediatrics

  • Monique Kumar, MD

    Monique Kumar, MD

    Pediatric Dermatology

  • Joseph Lopez, MD

    Joseph Lopez, MD, MBA

    Medical Director, Pediatric Head and Neck Surgery

  • Ivonne Mahavir, CCC-SLP

    Ivonne Mahavir, MA, CCC-SLP

    Pediatric Feeding Therapist

  • Kimone Moncrieffe, APRN for head and neck program

    Kimone Moncrieffe, APRN

    Pediatric Plastic Surgery

  • Tace Rico, MD

    Tace Rico, MD

    Medical Director, Pediatric Dermatology

  • Rajendra Fernando Sawh-Martinez, MD

    Rajendra Sawh-Martinez, MD, MHS, FACS

    Medical Director, Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

  • Maegan Sexton headshot

    Maegan Sexton, MA, CCC-SLP

    Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist

  • Tiffani Smith

    Tiffani Smith, BSN, RN

    Cleft and Craniofacial Nurse Care Coordinator

  • Headshot for Han Sun

    Han Sun, MS, RD, LD, CNSC, CSP

    Registered Dietitian