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News — Doha, Qatar (April 29, 2025) – announced today that it has entered a strategic collaboration with Sidra Medicine, one of the leading hospitals for children and women in Qatar and the Middle East.

To celebrate the partnership, Sidra Medicine hosted an event April 21 at its facility in Qatar that was attended by CHLA President and Chief Operating Officer and , Executive Director of CHLA’s . The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two institutions encompasses participation from multiple specialties across each healthcare organization, with the aim of enhancing shared best practices, advisory support, leading-edge research, patient care initiatives, education, and training.  

“Each year, CHLA provides care and treatments for children from all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 countries worldwide,” says Khouri. “Our mission is to create hope and build healthier futures for children everywhere, and this collaboration will enable CHLA to extend its scientific and clinical expertise to Sidra Medicine, covering areas of mutual interest and growth. We look forward to working jointly with the Sidra Medicine teams to advance medical services, leading-edge research, and exceptional patient care.”

Dr. Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, Chief Executive Officer of Sidra Medicine, said: “Sidra Medicine is proud to be part of an international collaboration with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which represents a bold step toward redefining how institutions work together across borders. By combining our strengths and expertise, we are strengthening a culture of innovation, knowledge exchange, and a shared vision for the future of pediatric care.”

The collaboration between CHLA and initially began through the Cardiology Department at Sidra Medicine, and the partnership will develop a comprehensive and collaborative patient care, education, and clinical research program between Sidra Medicine’s Heart Center and CHLA’s . Additionally, this new agreement will provide both institutions with valuable opportunities for education, knowledge transfer and clinical expertise that extends to multiple specialties and sub-specialties, including but not limited to specialized medical practices and procedures relevant to Sidra Medicine’s needs.

The partnership benefits both hospitals in several ways:

• As part of the patient care program, both institutions will coordinate the transfer and treatment of pediatric patients with highly complex cardiac conditions. Children in Qatar who require advanced surgical interventions not available locally will be referred to CHLA, while patients from the MENA region who receive surgery at CHLA will have the option to continue their post-operative and long-term care at Sidra Medicine.

• Enhanced Research Opportunities: Collaboration between the hospitals opens new avenues for joint research projects with each institution’s scientific investigators and physician scientists.

• Educational and Training Programs: The agreement facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two institutions. This includes opportunities for medical professionals to participate in training programs, workshops, and conferences hosted by CHLA & Sidra Medicine, thereby enhancing clinical skills and knowledge.

• Improved Patient Care: By sharing best practices and collaborating on clinical protocols, both institutions can enhance the quality of care provided to patients. This partnership can lead to the development of new treatment methodologies and improved patient care standards.

CHLA and Sidra Medicine have common values and missions aimed at providing the very best family-centered care, utilizing innovation and the latest research to treat and cure disease and chronic illnesses affecting children.

Dr. Hesham Al Saloos, Division Chief of Cardiology, Heart Center at Sidra Medicine, said: “This collaboration brings together two leading centers with world-class cardiac services that share a commitment to advancing pediatric cardiology. Our partnership with CHLA will open new avenues of care and cure, for some of the rarest and most challenging heart conditions in children. By streamlining our clinical care pathways and exchanging expertise, we will ensure that more patients can benefit from world-class cardiac treatment closer to home.”

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has more than 8,000 team members—including more than 1,000 pediatric specialist physicians. The hospital performs more than 16,000 surgeries and conducts more than 747,000 patient visits each year. As a pediatric academic medical center, CHLA delivers world-class medical care; conducts groundbreaking scientific research to develop new treatments and new cures for childhood diseases at of CHLA; and operates one of the largest pediatric training programs in the country for physicians, nurses and other specialists.

Moreover, CHLA is one of the globe’s premier pediatric institutions with services and outcomes for rare and complex conditions among the best in the world. In Â鶹´«Ã½week’s 2025 ranking of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals, CHLA was recognized among the top five institutions globally for pediatrics. It also has a dedicated to support the unique needs of international patients and families traveling to CHLA for specialty and complex care needs.

Sidra Medicine is a private, not-for-profit 400-bed academic healthcare and research institution for women, children and adolescents. Established by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, Sidra Medicine is committed to delivering exceptional patient and family-focused care, conducting innovative biomedical and clinical research, and providing a personalized journey of care and cure and precision medicine specifically for rare and genetic diseases. Outpatient care began in 2016 and its state-of-the art inpatient hospital opened in 2018.

“The partnership is built on camaraderie and shared goals to enhance best practices,” says Torres. “Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is recognized for its world class care and is consistently ranked as a U.S. children’s hospital in the U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½ & World Report Best Children’s Hospital survey. Sidra Medicine is considered one the finest children’s hospitals in the Middle East, so we anticipate great synergy to benefit patient care and research in the years to come.”

About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles  Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is at the forefront of pediatric medicine and is the largest provider of hospital care for children in California. Children’s Hospital is home to renowned experts who work together across disciplines to deliver inclusive and compassionate care, and drive advances that set pediatric standards across the nation and around the globe. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles delivers a level of care that is among the best in the world for a truly diverse population of children. The hospital is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the nation on U.S. Â鶹´«Ã½ & World Report’s Honor Roll of Best Children’s Hospitals. CHLA is the top-ranked children’s hospital in California and the Pacific U.S. region for 2024-25. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles embraces the hospital’s mission to create hope and build healthier futures. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is among the top 10 children’s hospitals for National Institutes of Health funding. The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles supports the full continuum of research, allowing physicians and scientists to translate discoveries into treatments and bring answers to families faster. The pediatric academic medical center also is home to one of the largest training programs for pediatricians in the United States. And the hospital’s commitment to building strong communities is evident in CHLA’s efforts to fight food insecurity, enhance health education and literacy, and introduce more people to careers in health care. To learn more, follow CHLA on  , , LinkedIn, and , formerly known as Twitter, and visit .

About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Center for Global Health

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles cares for patients across six continents and more than 90 countries, improving the health and well-being of children and their families far beyond our country’s borders. The hospital’s  supports patients and families traveling from around the world to our top pediatric academic medical center for specialty and complex care needs during their entire care journey, from initial inquiries to appointments and follow-ups, all the way through the return to their home countries. Our experienced team serves as the single point-of-contact and concierge team and supports international patient families in accessing and navigating their healthcare experience seamlessly. The Global Health team helps to facilitate comprehensive, culturally sensitive care and is dedicated to supporting the unique needs of international patients and families. We understand that if your child has a serious health issue, you will go anywhere to get the best care. The Center for Global Health is here to help make Children’s Hospital Los Angeles your home away from home. To learn more, follow CHLA on , , LinkedIn,  and , formerly known as Twitter, and visit .

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About Sidra Medicine

Innovating Care. Transforming Lives

From the heart of Qatar, , is a private, not-for-profit academic healthcare and research institution for women, children, and young people. Established by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, Sidra Medicine is committed to delivering exceptional patient and family-focused care, conducting innovative biomedical and clinical research, and providing a personalized journey of care and cure and precision medicine specifically for rare and genetic diseases.

Contact: Lorenzo Benet, [email protected]