McMaster University professor Enas El Gouhary has been appointed as the inaugural director of faculty well-being for the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), effective Nov. 1.

In the new role, El Gouhary will develop a network of well-being champions across the Faculty and help its departments and schools craft initiatives for improving faculty members’ wellness at work.

El Gouhary obtained her medical degree from Egypt’s Cairo University in 1998. She completed her pediatric residency at McMaster in 2010 followed by a neonatal fellowship at Toronto University. El Gouhary joined McMaster in 2013, and she is an associate professor of pediatrics, in its division of neonatology.

“Dr. El Gouhary will be a strong advocate for the well-being of our faculty members, as well as their continued professional success,” said Paul O’Byrne, FHS dean and vice-president.

“She already has a solid track record as a clinician educator with a focus on curriculum development and physician wellness.”

“Cultivating a culture of well-being and professional fulfilment requires a holistic approach that fosters collaboration and invites engagement from all team members,” said El Gouhary.

“I am thrilled to see that our organization is prioritizing our people’s well-being by creating leadership capacity to lead wellness as one of the important steps in a road map towards a culture of joy in work and professional fulfilment.”

El Gouhary has extensive academic and clinical experience, including as director of the Department of Pediatrics’ neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship program and chair of the department’s mentorship and wellness committees.

As committee chair, she led the implementation of mentorship circles for new pediatric faculty members.

In her leadership roles, El Gouhary co-led the adaptation of the ‘Joy-in-Work’ framework, which focuses on engagement and empowerment of the team. She represents McMaster University on the Association of Faculties of Medicine Committee wellness group.

“Dr. El Gouhary has demonstrated intense passion, commitment, and leadership in advancing faculty well-being. I am confident that she will excel in this role,” said Mark Walton, FHS vice-dean of faculty affairs.