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For more information about the gift and the Institute's launch, watch the launch video "Breaking Boundaries". |
The creation of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation was made possible by a historic gift of $150 million from the Government of Abu Dhabi. It is the largest gift ever made to support pediatric surgery, and one of the largest to any children's hospital.
The gift followed a longtime relationship between the hospital and the United Arab Emirates, and it reflects a shared vision to advance medical innovation to improve children's health worldwide. Over the past decade, Children's National has been honored to have treated thousands of children from the United Arab Emirates, through a relationship with the Embassy of the UAE and the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi.
Also contributing to the partnership was a friendship between philanthropist Joseph E. Robert, Jr., and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Mr. Robert donated $25 million to Children's National after Dr. Kurt Newman performed a 10-hour surgery on Robert's son. The hospital's surgery department is named the Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Center for Surgical Care at Children’s National.
Robert worked with Dr. Newman and other hospital executives to shape the vision for the surgery institute, challenging the team to think big to make the largest impact possible for children everywhere.
During the time Robert was shaping this vision and helping to bring it to life, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He celebrated the launch of the Sheikh Zayed Institute in 2009 and lost his courageous fight with cancer in 2010. The Institute honors Robert's legacy through the Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Fellowships in Pediatric Surgical Innovation, which help educate the next generation of innovative scientists and surgeons.
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A Tribute to a Visionary Leader
The Institute is named in honor of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE and the country's president from 1971 until his death in 2004. The medical center's main campus in Washington, DC, the Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Pediatric Medicine, is also named in his honor. In 2011, Sheikh Mohammed visited the campus and the Institute that bears his father's name.
Learn More
For more information about the gift and the Institute's launch, watch the launch video "Breaking Boundaries," or read about the gift in the Chronicle of Philanthropy or the UAE newspaper The National.
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