Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine host Annual Pediatric Conference in Al Ain

The conference, co-sponsored by the Health Authority -Abu Dhabi (HAAD), focused on the latest scientific advances in field of pediatrics and served as a platform for sharing of experiences on the local, regional and international levels on various spheres of pediatrics.

The three-day conference brought together an international group of eminent expert pediatricians, who shared their knowledge to present the full scope of pediatrics in a modern perspective. Some of the prominent names that spoke at the conference included Dr. Duke E. Cameron, Professor of Surgery and Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Cameron has made significant contributions in the fields of adult and pediatric cardiac surgery, cardiac transplantation, Marfan syndrome, mitral valve repair and aortic surgery including valve sparing aortic root procedures. Another world-class medical expert from Johns Hopkins Hospital was Dr. George Dover, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, who has built his career focusing on the sickle cell disease. He is also the author of more than 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals and the author or co-author of 26 chapters of various books in the field of pediatric hematology and genetics.

In addition, there were other speakers from the region and Tawam Hospital who focused on contemporary pediatric issues including, New Insight Into Genetic Disorders; Thalassemia in the UAE: New perspective; Neuro-developmental Assessment in Children; Pediatric cardiac surgery: Principles and Perspectives; Hypothermia as a treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: From theory to practice; and Genetic Basis of Congenital Heart Disesase.

Three workshops were conducted on the third day that highlighted latest innovations in Neonatal Respiratory Support, Clinical Radiology for the Pediatrician and Pediatric Mechanical Ventilation.

"This annual pediatric conference saw some of the renowned names in the field coming together and sharing their knowledge on specific areas of pediatrics. As expected, the conference brought about significant results which will go a long way in treating various child-related ailments in the region. The event served as an ideal platform for experts to discuss the most recent medical developments in pediatrics taking place across the globe and facilitated the exchange of knowledge and experience among participants," said Michael Heindel, CEO of Tawam Hospital.

"This specialised conference was all the more significant when we consider that an increasing number of children today are suffering from ailments which were until recently known to afflict only adults," he added.

The Department of Pediatrics at Tawam Hospital currently has a total of 52 physicians, including 17 consultants and 35 specialists and medical officers. The department boasts of 110 pediatric beds in total, including 35 beds in the medical ward, 19 in the hematology-oncology ward, 24 in pediatric surgery, 26 in the NICU/SCBU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit/Special Care Baby Unit) and 6 beds in the Pediatric ICU. This department has 12 clinical divisions which cover all general and subspecialty pediatric services, including neonatology, cardiology, hematology-oncology, neurology, pulmonary, nephrology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and metabolism, emergency medicine, critical care and pediatric surgery.