Charitable Outreach

Learn about Dr. Hagen’s commitment to giving back through charitable surgical missions and community outreach.

Dr. Hagen sitting with a woman and child

Giving Back Through Surgical Expertise

Dr. Mitchell Hagen is passionate and dedicated to providing charitable surgical care to those in need. Through volunteer medical missions and partnerships with organizations like Healing the Children Northeast, Dr. Hagen performs life-changing reconstructive procedures for individuals who would otherwise not have access to care. His commitment to restoring confidence and improving lives extends beyond his private practice, reinforcing his dedication to making a difference locally and internationally.

Changing Lives Through Mission Work & Surgical Care

Dr. Mitchell Hagen believes in using his surgical expertise broadly to create meaningful change through life-changing surgical mission work. As a volunteer with Healing the Children Northeast, he provides pro bono reconstructive procedures to children and individuals in underserved communities—helping restore function, confidence, and quality of life to those who otherwise would not have access to care.

These mission trips have a profound impact, allowing patients to receive corrective procedures for cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities. Dr. Hagen is honored to be part of these initiatives and to use his skills and artistic eye to help transform lives beyond his private practice. Our practice offers patients an opportunity to donate toward future mission trips, directly supporting the cost of supplies, surgical care, and travel. Your support can help provide essential procedures to patients in need worldwide.

Why Charitable Surgery Matters

For many individuals around the world, access to life-changing surgical care is out of reach due to financial and medical limitations. Conditions such as cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities can impact not only appearance but also speech, nutrition, and social well-being. Without proper surgical intervention, many children and adults are left to face challenges that could otherwise be corrected with expert medical care.

Dr. Hagen believes that everyone deserves the chance to live confidently, free from physical limitations that affect their quality of life. Through his charitable surgical missions, he provides pro bono reconstructive procedures to underserved communities, helping individuals regain both function and confidence.

Making a Difference Healing the Children Northeast

Dr. Hagen is proud to partner with Healing the Children Northeast, a nonprofit organization that brings vital medical care to children who would otherwise go without treatment. As part of these missions, Dr. Hagen travels abroad to perform reconstructive surgeries for children born with congenital facial differences, such as cleft lips and palates. Beyond the surgical procedures, these missions provide the following:

Comprehensive Medical Care: The missions ensure that patients receive pre- and post-surgical support for a safe recovery.
A Renewed Sense of Confidence: With renewed well-being, children can engage in school, social interactions, and daily life without stigma.
Life-Changing Impact for Families: These transformations help parents and caregivers see their loved ones thrive with restored function and self-esteem.

By volunteering his expertise, Dr. Hagen is committed to using his skills for more than cosmetic enhancement—he’s restoring lives.

What Does It Look Like?

The work and planning for each mission trip begin months in advance. Essential surgical supplies—including anesthesia equipment, surgical instruments, dressings, and medications—must be carefully coordinated and procured. While some supplies are generously donated, others require significant funding. Approximately 40 suitcases are packed and transported with us, while additional materials are stored on-site for future missions. Once we arrive, our first priority is screening day, where we evaluate children and families in need of surgery. Some travel locally, while others endure days-long journeys to reach the facility. We also reconnect with previous patients, monitoring their progress, while assessing new cases for surgical candidacy. After thorough evaluations, we establish a surgical schedule for the week ahead.

Each day begins with post-operative rounds, ensuring patients from prior surgeries are recovering well. The rest of the day is spent in the operating room, providing life-changing procedures. Our mission is made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers, including nurses, speech-language pathologists, administrators, students, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and surgeons. We also work closely with local surgeons and pediatricians, who continue patient care long after we return home. These missions are not just about surgery—they are about restoring hope, transforming lives, and building sustainable medical care for the future.

How Can I Help?

Patients who want to be part of this mission can contribute to future surgical trips by donating to Healing the Children Northeast. Every donation helps cover the cost of medical supplies, surgical tools, post-operative care, and travel expenses that make these missions possible.

By supporting these efforts, you are:

Helping a child receive the surgery they need to live a normal, healthy life.
Providing access to medical resources for communities with little to no healthcare options.
Making a meaningful impact beyond aesthetics—giving someone the chance to smile confidently.

To learn more about how you can contribute, visit Healing the Children Northeast or contact our team to inquire about donation opportunities.

Why Choose Mitchell Hagen, MD?

Dr. Mitchell Hagen’s commitment to surgical mission work reflects his deep sense of compassion, integrity, and dedication to improving the lives of children in less fortunate circumstances. His patients can trust that they are working with a surgeon who not only values excellent results in his private practice, but uses his ability to to transform the confidence and self-worth of those in need. Whether in his private practice or on a medical mission, Dr. Hagen brings the same level of skill and care to every patient he treats.

Meet Dr. Hagen