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Children's National names Vice President, Sheikh Zayed Institute

Washington, DC— Children’s National Medical Center announced the appointment of Peter C.W. Kim, MD, CM, PhD, as vice president of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Medical Center, associate surgeon-in-chief and co-lead of the Institute’s Systems Biology Initiative. An internationally known pediatric surgeon and scientist, Dr. Kim will implement the institute’s vision of innovative, multidisciplinary research and development in pediatric surgery.

“The Sheikh Zayed Institute creates unprecedented opportunity to make fundamental differences in pediatric surgery, in real time, and truly affect the well being of children worldwide,” said Dr. Kim. “The Institute’s model creates an ecosystem where care, education, and research work simultaneously together.”

In addition to leading the day to day activities of the Sheikh Zayed Institute, as co-lead of the Systems Biology Initiative, he will develop smarter surgical tools that will enhance pediatric surgeons’ capacity and capability. Specifically, his focus is on three main areas: image guidance and next generation robotics, simulation technologies to teach tomorrow’s pediatric surgeons through hands-on approaches rather than the apprenticeship-based medical training model, and exploration of technologies such as high intensity focused ultrasound (HiFU) as potential non-invasive alternatives to conventional surgery.

“At the Sheikh Zayed Institute we are intently focused on adapting technologies and methodologies to make pediatric surgery more precise, less-invasive, and pain free,” said Kurt Newman, MD, incoming president and CEO of Children’s National as well as current senior vice president for the Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Center for Surgical Care and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. “We are thrilled that Dr. Kim will lead our team of scientists, physicians, and bioengineers in expediting the promise of pediatric surgical innovation.”

Dr. Kim joins Children’s National from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a national and international leading institution in pediatric research and care. There, he served as a pediatric surgeon and senior associate scientist in the hospital’s research institute. His clinical specialty is complex surgical airway reconstructions, advanced minimally invasive surgery and vascular reconstructive surgery for hepatobiliary diseases in children.

Dr. Kim brings with him a translational vision for pediatric surgery. His approach to tackling patient care challenges involves understanding their full spectrum, beginning with the molecular roots of a disease, leading to the development of groundbreaking surgical techniques and education programs, and finally creating solutions that ensure access to high quality care across entire communities.

“Children represent the best of us,” Dr. Kim continued. “That’s why I have dedicated my clinical and research work to improving their lives. The Sheikh Zayed Institute and Children’s National are the next step for physician-scientists like me to have an even greater impact on children’s health.”

Contact: Paula Darte, Emily Hartman, or Jennifer Stinebiser at 202-476-4500.