Press Releases

North Highland Manager Michael Hatfield
Helps Change Children's Lives

March 28, 2008

Named Patient Chair of World Craniofacial Foundation

Houston, Texas —— Born with a severe facial deformity, Michael Hatfield’s life was transformed after receiving life-changing corrective surgeries.  The tedious multi-step surgical process that began at age one and concluded when Michael was 19 was performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Kenneth Salyer, Chairman of the World Craniofacial Foundation (WCF), an organization dedicated to helping children with craniofacial abnormalities gain access to life-changing medical procedures.

"I look at my job, my relationship with my wife, my life…anything I have that is deemed successful, and I wonder if it would have happened without the support and intervention of the World Craniofacial Foundation (WCF),” says Hatfield.  “Would I be married to a beautiful woman today?  I mean, I’m charming, but not that charming!” 

Hatfield is giving back by using his personal story to help move the organization’s mission forward.  He has been named patient chair of the Special Gifts Campaign for the World Craniofacial Foundation and has addressed Congressional representatives in Washington, D.C., urging them to focus resources on reconstructive surgery for children in the U.S. and abroad.  He has been interviewed by multiple national publications, including the Wall Street Journal as a recognized leader in the legislative drive for children’s reconstructive surgery rights.

Recently named one of the international “Top 30 Consultants Under 30” by Consulting Magazine, Michael is quickly rising to the top of his field as one of the youngest managers at the Houston office of The North Highland Company, an international management and technology consulting company (headquartered in Atlanta), where he specializes in human capital.

"Craniofacial disorders affect more children every year than all cancers combined,” says Hatfield.  “Our goal is to encourage and support craniofacial centers of excellence around the world in order to transform the lives of affected children."

The mission of the WCF is to give help, hope and healing to people with craniofacial abnormalities and their families regardless of geography or socio-economic class.  According to the foundation, one out of every 500 newborns today has a craniofacial and clefting deformity.  In the U.S. alone, more than 12,000 newborns each year will need the specialized care of a craniofacial team. 
For more information, visit www.worldcf.org