When Chelsey Nicol scrolled through childhood photos recently, she didn’t expect to cry. She didn’t expect to feel such a wave of grief for the little girl she once was and awe for the woman she has become.
“I remember exactly how she felt [then],” she said. “I was embarrassed of how I looked, how I spoke, how I barely had teeth most of the time. I never felt like I fit in.”
Born with a cleft lip and palate, Nicol grew up navigating surgeries, speech challenges, and the social cruelty that often comes with looking or sounding different. She remembers crying before school, wishing she could simply blend in.
But she also remembers something else: resilience. And eventually: purpose. “Everything I went through wasn’t something to hide,” she shared. “It was shaping me for something bigger.”
Today, that “something bigger” is here.
Nicol has joined the UNLV School of Dental Medicine as program lead for the new Cleft Palate & Craniofacial Clinic, Nevada’s only interdisciplinary clinical team dedicated to caring for infants and children born with craniofacial anomalies. The part-time role is deeply personal for Nicol, a full-circle return to a community of caregivers she once needed herself.
“I can’t wait to support families through their cleft journeys,” she said. “No one should ever feel alone in this, and if my story brings even one person hope, then every part of my journey was worth it.”
Nicol serves as the first point of connection for patients needing complex craniofacial care and their families. “Stepping into this role at the dental school feels healing,” she said. “It feels like I’m becoming the person my younger self desperately needed.”
In her role, Chelsey is the organizational heart of the clinic; she ensures that families feel supported from the moment they first call to the moment their care is complete. On top of mangaging day-to-day clinic operations, Chelsey is responsible for coordinating check-ins, records, scheduling, and communication among the many dental specialists, surgeons, and medical providers involved in each child’s care. Chelsey also serves as the primary point of contact for families, guiding them through treatment steps, helping them understand timelines, and offering education and emotional support during what can often be an overwhelming journey.
“Chelsey has quickly become an essential part of our cleft and craniofacial team. Her professionalism, empathy, and lived experience create a level of patient support that is truly exceptional,” said Dr. Brian Chrzan, the interim program director for orthodontics who works closely with Chelsey at the School of Dental Medicine.
While her UNLV position is part time, she also serves full-time as a senior talent manager for Absolute Dental — a role that sharpened her skills in leadership, communication, and patient-centered service. Her experience allows her to connect with families in uniquely empathetic ways, she said.
“Every surgery, every hard moment, every doubt brought me exactly to where I’m meant to be,” she said.
For Nevada families, the clinic means access, dignity, and care close to home. For Chelsey, it means healing, and the chance to change lives with the voice and experience she once wished she had beside her. “This isn’t just a job,” she said. “It’s purpose. It’s healing. It’s hope.”
About the UNLV Cleft Palate & Craniofacial Clinic
The new UNLV Cleft Palate & Craniofacial Clinic is designed for patients with complex medical, behavioral, or developmental needs. It offers accessible operatories, surgical suites equipped for anesthesia, and sensory-friendly spaces to support children and families. It is located within the state-of-the-art Advanced Needs Dental Clinic at UNLV’s Shadow Lane Campus.
Approximately 60 infants per year in Nevada are born with cleft palate or another craniofacial condition. With the passage of Senate Bill 280 in June 2025, UNLV’s School of Dental Medicine and the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine were able to restore this vital service to Nevada.
Clinics began this fall with plans to expand to bi-monthly operations as patient demand grows. Families can now receive assessments, treatment planning, and ongoing multidisciplinary care without leaving Nevada. It aligns with UNLV’s mission to expand access to oral health care and to train compassionate professionals prepared to serve diverse communities.
The clinic can be reached at 702-774-2450.
