emily cihla

UIC’s Craniofacial Center focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to treating patients, which is very unique and effective. The collaboration between plastic surgeons, speech therapists, psychologists, anaplastologists, and other medical professionals ensures that health concerns are addressed with the whole person in mind. The high level of communication and teamwork is comforting as a patient or family member because it ensures nothing goes unnoticed. Since there’s a high level of collaboration between specialists, it also helps patients feel more comfortable bringing up their own thoughts and concerns. It allows patients to have a more active role in their healthcare and helps them be heard. 

Emily graduated from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Her goal is to obtain a Master’s of Science in Nursing and become a nurse practitioner. She is driven by a great love for hospitals and people, as both are full of hope, love, and perseverance. In her free time, she likes to journal, dance, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family. 

As a Craniofacial Center patient since 2007, Emily received various medical treatments that have drastically improved her life. Her BAHA implant surgery provided clear hearing, speech classes improved my intelligibility, orthodontic work produced a healthy smile, pre-op and post-op therapy sessions provided an outlet for the invisible socioemotional impacts of surgery, and craniofacial operations fixed by small Treacher Collins Syndrome jaw.  Now that she’s older, Emily realizes that all of these treatments were a result of the generous funding that the Face the Future Foundation does for the Craniofacial Center. She’s extremely grateful for the medical work that is a direct result from the collaboration between Face the Future Foundation and the Craniofacial Center’s medical professionals. Emily feels is grateful that she was able to receive so much life changing medical care, and is moved by what the Foundation can do for an entire community.  

Emily believes very strongly in the “Sara Learns the Secret About the Law of Attraction” book, which illustrates the power of perspective and mindfulness. Nobody can control the lot they are given in life, but everyone has the ability to think differently about situations and see them in a more compassionate light. She thinks learning to let go of things you can’t control can provide peace. The ability to invest in friends, family, the community, and oneself is a way to attract more positivity, which can make it easier to face negativity and hardships.