The Joy of Discovery

Research is all about excitement, passion and work ethic. When I engage in research, I feel like a kid playing with blocks, experimenting and trying to build different things. New discoveries bring unmatched elation.

We are continuously experiencing this joy at the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Hospital. Our goal is to make pediatric surgery more precise, less invasive, and pain free for children. We’ve developed programs and products such as the 3-D printed models that we produced to help separate conjoined twins, technology that recognizes genetic conditions through a smartphone app and treatment for tumors without surgery.

Research at the institute continues to blossom and branch out in advancing global pediatric care. We’ve created a powerful legacy for patients and their families as well as for researchers, inventors and physicians locally and around the world. Perhaps the benefits will apply only to some pediatric patients, but it is possible that the benefits could extend to a multitude of patients around the world. That possibility exists, and it is extremely exciting.