I have known Brian Mullaney ( and his family) for 15 years, as director of one of the most successful partner hospitals of the two charities, Smile Train and Wonderwork, which he founded.
Brian had a great vision and passion to help the needy and also an exceptional capability to make his charity a worldwide success.
His model for Smile Train-” empower local hospitals and local doctors to treat their own patients”, changed the way clefts of lip and palate were being treated,in the entire world.. It became one of the most successful charities in the world. Its transparent and foolproof methodology became an instant success, attracting surgeons and hospitals worldwide to join hands and work for the cause of cleft patients. It cleared a backlog of more than 1 million across the world and more than half a million in India.
Our hospital worked tirelessly with them and operated, Smile Train sponsored, 2.3% of all cleft cases in the world and 6% of all cleft cases in India. It also treated about 6000 burned patients supported y Wonderwork, another charity, he founded.
A documentary made on our work, “Smile Pinki’ won an Oscar Award in 2009, brought unprecedented awareness about cleft worldwide, and is considered one of the most successful medical documentaries in the world.
He wanted to help patients other than clefts, like post-burn deformities, club foot, blindness, and hole in the heart. But for some reason, Smile Train did not agree to it and he had to start another charity called Wonderwork. It was a great success too.. As a plastic surgery hospital we were taking care of post-burn deformities and club foot and we helped them in great numbers, in this poor part of the world.
National Geographic made a documentary on our work for burned patients -” Before and after: how plastic surgery changed this girl’s life” or simply “Burned girl Ragini”, The movie became viral on the internet and won many awards including AIB awards and Davey’s gold award.
It is unfortunate that because of some personal animosity, mean-mindedness, and obscene wealth, lawsuits were filed against him to destroy him and his charity, Wonderwork, which was becoming a success again. His image was also maligned using all methodologies including the creation of some websites and paid insertions in media.
I have communicated with him for 15 years and know him as a gem of a person, an honest, upright and a man of words. His family is simple, loving, cohesive and bright. His daughter Maura, stayed with us for a month to volunteer in our hospital. She is a well-raised polite and virtuous girl. His other children are also doing great.. They are team people and have seen the world understand people.
Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh
Former President- Indian Society of Cleft Lip Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies
Project Director-The Smile Train
Executive Member- National Academy of Burn
Former Secretary-ISCLP&CA
Former Executive-APSI
Director and Chief of Plastic Surgery
G S Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital
G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital was started by Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh, in the memory of his father late Shri Gyan Singh. The objective of this hospital is to provide state-of-the-art, super-specialty care in plastic surgery at an affordable cost to the needy and relatively poorer population of this part of the country. The hospital is meeting its goals very successfully and has become a well-known hospital of plastic Surgery in India and is known the world over for its cleft care.
It provides treatment & cares in all the subspecialties of plastic surgery- viz. cleft and craniofacial surgery, maxillofacial surgery, hand, and microvascular surgery, congenital anomalies like hypospadias, epispadias, syndactyle, polydactyly, a club or cleft hand, deformities of feet, acute burns & post burn deformities, trauma with vascular, nerve tendon injuries & exposed bones, lymphoedema,(filariasis), cosmetic surgeries – facelift, rhinoplasty, liposuctions, etc.
It is especially known for cleft surgery. The team of doctors under the leadership of Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh has performed more than 17000 free cleft surgeries. It is now known as one of the finest cleft centers in the world and provides treatment free of cost to the patient in association with The Smile Train.
Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh received his medical education and training ( MBBS, MS in general surgery, MCh in Plastic Surgery) at the prestigious Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi India. He is also a Diplomate of the National Board in Plastic Surgery. He was further trained extensively in aesthetic surgery, head and neck reconstruction, burns, and hand and microsurgery at various institutions in India, the UK, and the USA.
Smile Pinki a film made by Ms. Megan Mylan on his and his G S Memorial Hospital’s ( a Smile Train Center) contributions to the cause of cleft patients and to the lives of cleft children won Academy Award-the OSCAR
Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh was conferred Smile Train Hero Award in Baltimore, USA in 2007 for his contributions to the cause of cleft patients and for providing the highest number of free cleft surgeries in the world, by his team at G S Memorial Hospital and with the help of the Smile Train.
He has published and presented a large number of scientific papers and has been a faculty in various conferences, CME, and operative workshops. He has received many academic awards for his contributions, including the PEET prize of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. He is a member of many medical organizations and has held many responsible posts. Currently, he is also an executive council member of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India.
He has contributed greatly to the cause of poor and needy sick patients in this part of the country. His social contributions have been greatly acknowledged. He has received various civic awards including Kashi Ratna, City Pushpa, Manishi Ratna, and many others.
