Children’s National Medical Center gets $150M from Abu Dhabi for pediatric surgery innovation
By APWednesday, September 16, 2009
Abu Dhabi gives $150M to DC children’s hospital
WASHINGTON — The government of Abu Dhabi is giving $150 million to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington.
The donation announced Wednesday is one of the largest ever to a U.S. pediatric hospital.
It will create the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, where doctors will collaborate to improve surgeries for children.
Abu Dhabi, one of the United Arab Emirates, has previously given large sums to U.S. institutions including the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
This gift was arranged by Washington philanthropist Joseph E. Robert Jr., whose son underwent a 10-hour surgery at the hospital nearly a decade ago to rebuild his chest wall.
Robert approached the crown prince of Abu Dhabi after the two met on a business trip and became friends.
