Personal Message from Marie M. Tolarova

Dear colleagues and friends!

 On behalf of the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation, to which I am honored to serve as President, I would like to join Professor Robert Sader inviting you to come to Frankfurt in September 2025 for the 17^th World Congress of ICPF – CLEFT FRANKFURT 2025.

When you will come to Frankfurt, you will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the city  –  unique skyline over the river Main  (known as “Mainhattan”) along with historical architecture of Römer (City Hall), Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus (Frankfurt Cathedral) and Altstadt (Old Town). In addition to the historical and cultural importance, Frankfurt is known as the financial capital of Germany and leading financial center in Europe.  

Having been myself with cleft patients and their families over a half of a century, I am very pleased with, and grateful for the theme that Professor Sader chose for this congress –“ Holistic Therapeutic Concept – Focus on the Patient’s Wishes”. With all the available modern technology in the digital age today, we need to go back and listen to what our patients want, what their concerns are, include identification of causes of clefts and their prevention, and integrate it all in our multidisciplinary approach. Not forgetting that human contact is a part of a successful treatment outcome, we see the whole patient and communicate with him/her not focusing only on treatment of the cleft.

The topics that the congress is offering are giving room for every field and every specialty involved in the treatment, research, prevention, and support of patients with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies.

Thus, please, join us in the beautiful city of Frankfurt for an outstanding three-day program of the 17th ICPF World Congress! Share our knowledge, experience and skills to move another step forward to improving the life of individuals with clefts and craniofacial anomalies. 

Warmly,