ABU DHABI, 10th August, 2016 (WAM) -- A group of 28 Emirati diplomats recently visited the Children's National Medical Centre, home to the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation, in Washington, DC.

As the first graduating class of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, EDA, the diplomats flew to the US to meet with various UAE partner organisations and witnessed important UAE diplomatic programmes in action. They spent their time at Children's National meeting with patient families from the UAE, in addition to touring the Sheikh Zayed Institute, the Centre for Cancer and Blood Disorders, and the Washington Nationals' Paediatric Diabetes Care Complex.

Dr. Kurt Newman, President and CEO of Children's National, as well as Dr. Gerard Martin, Medical Director of Global Services, both welcomed the EDA graduates to Children's National and discussed the hospital's latest healthcare innovations and research collaborations with the UAE.

Dr. Newman said, "Our partnership with the UAE reflects our mutual commitment to provide all children, all around the world with quality paediatric healthcare. Hosting the Emirates Diplomatic Academy's first graduating class provided a great opportunity for them to see how this shared vision is being translated to reality, thanks to the ongoing support of their government, and the UAE's academic and health care sectors."

The EDA's Post-Graduate Diploma in UAE Diplomacy and International Relations is a unique nine-month programme which equips students with a thorough understanding of all aspects of international relations, and instils in its graduates the confidence and ability to represent the UAE in international platforms. Today, the EDA has a vibrant network of 105 diplomatic missions abroad, playing a key role in strengthening the UAE's global standing through economic, political and cultural collaboration.

Based in Washington DC, Children's National is home to the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation launched in September 2009 thanks to a gift from the government of Abu Dhabi. Children's National has been serving children since 1870 and was ranked among the top 10 paediatric hospitals by U.S. News amp; World Report 2015-16.