The care of individuals with cleft lip and palate is not merely a clinical responsibility, it is a lifelong commitment shaped by collaboration, learning, and shared purpose. The role of Speech-Language Pathologists in the management of individuals with cleft lip and palate is a long and evolving journey. It spans an in-depth understanding of developmental stages across the lifespan, beginning with early childhood and extending through preschool years, school age, adolescence, and adulthood. This journey encompasses the development of appropriate materials, counseling approaches, and age-specific assessment tools, rehabilitation strategies all aimed at enhancing communication abilities and improving the overall quality of life. As a faculty, my academic journey began in 1996, where I was teaching a course on the cleft lip and palate. During this, I realized the need of resources that were required to provide the practical exposure to teach the anatomical, physiological, and surgical concepts related to cleft lip and palate. Lack of visual aids, surgical videos, and interdisciplinary discussions posed a barrier to effective conceptual understanding for students. As a young faculty member, I found myself navigating these challenges through self-directed learning, repeated revision of available materials, and constant introspection regarding the effectiveness of my teaching. A defining milestone in this journey happened in 2002, when I attended the INDOCLEFTCON held in Belgaum. This event marked a major change in my understanding of cleft and craniofacial care. Until then, my perspective had been largely discipline-specific, shaped by textbook knowledge and isolated clinical experiences. The conference introduced me to the true meaning of a multidisciplinary team approach, where collaboration, coordination, and shared responsibility formed the cornerstone of comprehensive cleft care. It was here that the abstract notion of “team management” transformed into meaningful practice. These conferences enhanced my understanding through evidence-based learning and meaningful interactions with peers from the different parts of the country and abroad. These interactions broadened my clinical perspective and reinforced the interdependence of disciplines in achieving the optimal outcomes for the individuals with cleft lip and palate Overall, INDOCLEFTCON conferences contributed significantly to a comprehensive understanding of cleft-related practice and research. One of the most impactful experiences during this phase was witnessing live surgical procedures and attending the preconference workshops. Observing surgery allowed me to appreciate the intricacies of surgical decision-making, anatomical variation, and postoperative considerations that directly influence the speech outcomes. This exposure profoundly enhanced my understanding of velopharyngeal mechanisms and dysfunction, and it refined a new level of confidence in my academic and clinical understanding. More importantly, it transformed my teaching. Teaching was no longer confined to textbook descriptions; it evolved into an integrated learning experience grounded in the real-world clinical practice. This led me to focus on strengthening both clinical and research activities, which in turn resulted in the establishment of a specialized multidisciplinary center “Unit for Structural Orofacial Anomalies – USOFA” at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysore, in 2011. As my responsibilities increasingly involved postgraduate teaching, my focus shifted toward strengthening theoretical rigor and evidence-based practice. Exposure to contemporary literature not only updated my knowledge but also refined my critical thinking and research orientation. This phase marked a transition from survival-driven teaching to purposeful academic engagement, where clinical experiences, interdisciplinary learning, and research evidence converged to inform both teaching and mentorship. From this point, the journey began with explorations using videofluoroscopy, documenting evidence-based practice, software development, creation of database, and stimuli in multiple languages to support articulation drills, along with the preparation of handbooks, promoting clinical activities, and success stories through the social media. This progressed into doctoral research which focused on bridging existing gaps and strengthening a unit. Along the way, this work provided insight into publishing articles related to awareness and evidence-based practice. Further doctoral studies also expanded into teleintervention. Against this backdrop, my three decades of professional experience have inspired me to step forward and seek support in assuming the responsibility of President of the Indian Society of Cleft Lip, Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies (ISCLPCA). I am also delighted to share that INDOCLEFTCON 2026 will be held at the AIISH, Mysore. AIISH is a premier institution in the field of speech and hearing sciences which was established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1965. Strengthening its legacy, the Center of Excellence at AIISH was inaugurated and dedicated to the nation by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, on June 20, 2022. Conceptualized as a world-class Center of Excellence for persons with communication disorders, the Center brings together an interdisciplinary team of academicians, clinicians, technologists, and researchers. Its mandate is to foster comprehensive research on identified priority areas, deliver state-of-the-art clinical services, and develop assistive technologies and surgical solutions for holistic rehabilitation. The institute plays a significant role in the identification and rehabilitation of various disabilities as outlined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Of the 21 conditions listed under the Act, 12 disabilities are currently assessed and managed at AIISH, reflecting its comprehensive and inclusive approach to service delivery. In recognition of its sustained contributions, AIISH was conferred the National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities – 2024, further affirming its national leadership in education, research, rehabilitation services, and extension activities for persons with disabilities. AIISH recently completed 60 years of distinguished service and celebrated its Diamond Jubilee an occasion made truly memorable by the gracious presence of the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. This milestone stands as a proud moment for the institution and the profession at large. As AIISH celebrates 60 years of service, I extend a warm invitation to all participants to join us at INDOCLEFTCON 2026. Together, let us reaffirm our shared mission and continue the collective journey toward compassionate, collaborative, and comprehensive cleft care. Ethical policy and institutional review board statement This article is a reflective narrative/editorial in nature and does not involve any direct research on human participants or animals. Therefore, ethical approval from an institutional review board was not required. Declaration of patient consent Patient consent was not required for this article, as no identifiable patient data, images, or clinical details are reported. Data availability statement Data sharing is not applicable to this article, as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the preparation of this manuscript. Authors’ contributions The author solely conceptualized, drafted, revised, and approved the final version of the manuscript.
M. Pushpavathi (Thu,) studied this question.