Washington, DC
Dr. Summar is well-known for his pioneering work in caring for children diagnosed with rare diseases. He came to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, in 2010 from Vanderbilt University and holds board certifications in both pediatrics and clinical genetics as well as biochemical genetics. At Children’s National, he leads the Division of Genetics and Metabolism, currently the largest clinical division of its kind in the world, overseeing 8,000 patients a year with rare diseases. His laboratory works on both devices and treatments for patients with genetic diseases while also supporting advancements in mainstream medicine through education about these disorders. His work has resulted in new drugs in U.S. Food and Drug Administration trials for patients with congenital heart disease and premature birth. Dr. Summar holds more than 60 patents and has published more than 160 peer-reviewed research studies. He developed and launched the world’s first Rare Disease Institute (RDI) at Children’s National, which recently opened its new location on the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus, a first-of-its-kind pediatric research and innovation hub located in Washington, DC.