SEHA and Cincinnati Children’s to convene leading paediatric specialists for landmark international conference

The 20th SEHA International Paediatric Conference will bring together approximately 700 clinicians and researchers from across the globe to examine advances in childhood medicine and complex paediatric conditions, strengthening specialised care throughout the emirate.

SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Cincinnati Children’s, one of the United States’ most distinguished paediatric institutions, will co-host the 20th SEHA International Paediatric Conference from 16 to 18 October 2026 at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. This significant gathering represents the continued development of an established collaboration that has substantially strengthened paediatric expertise and clinical knowledge exchange across Abu Dhabi.

The conference will convene approximately 700 delegates under the theme Cutting Edge Paediatric Update, creating an exceptional forum for the discussion of advances in paediatric medicine and contemporary approaches to managing complex childhood conditions. The scientific programme comprises 30 presentations and six Meet the Expert workshops, featuring 29 international speakers principally from the United States, with additional contributors from Spain and six specialists from the UAE.

Strengthening Paediatric Care Across Abu Dhabi

The partnership between SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Cincinnati Children’s has already demonstrated remarkable impact. From April 2025 to June 2026, the collaboration delivered specialised care to 969 children, whilst enabling 189 families to access advanced paediatric services within Abu Dhabi. This partnership encompasses expertise spanning paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, gastroenterology, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, haematology and bone marrow transplantation, and orthopaedics and rehabilitation.

Dr Jamal Al-Jubeh, Conference Chair and Chair of the SEHA Paediatric Council, explained the conference’s approach: “The twentieth edition gives us an opportunity to look beyond the milestone itself and consider what clinicians need from a scientific meeting. The programme focuses on complex decisions encountered in practice, integrating international and local experiences from the UAE. That exchange is most valuable when it provides participants with evidence and approaches they can discuss and adapt with their teams.”

A Platform for Knowledge Exchange and Clinical Development

The scientific sessions will address genetic conditions and gene therapy, child and adolescent mental health, cardiovascular and kidney conditions in children, immune mediated disorders, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, complex care and ethical decision making. Clinicians from SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City will present their clinical experience and research findings, with case based discussions examining diagnostic and treatment decisions involving complex and rare conditions. UAE based contributors will present eight complex cases and seven research abstracts to the international audience.

Dr Dan von Allmen, Regional President of Cincinnati Children’s Global Health Consultancy, stated: “Co hosting this conference will create an opportunity for specialists from different locations to examine clinical developments together and learn from one another. Our faculty looks forward to exchanging knowledge with colleagues in the UAE and contributing to discussions grounded in evidence, complex cases, and practical decision making. These conversations help professional communities learn from one another’s global and local expertise.”

Through SIPC 2026, SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Cincinnati Children’s will extend their education and knowledge exchange work to a broader professional audience, connecting clinicians and researchers through case based learning, locally led research and international specialist perspectives. This collaborative endeavour will contribute substantially to the development of the paediatric workforce and the advancement of personalised paediatric services, ultimately strengthening the quality and availability of locally delivered care for children and families throughout Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.

Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office