Dr. M. Constantine Samaan appointed Head, Department of Pediatrics

News & Announcements | 15 Apr 2024

On the recommendation of Dean Jane Philpott, Matthew Evans, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), has appointed Dr. M. Constantine Samaan as Head, Department of Pediatrics, and Queen’s Chair in Pediatrics Research and Education (funded by the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization), effective June 1, 2024, for a five-year term. He is also appointed to the role of Professor, Department of Pediatrics for the same term.

Dean Philpott extends her sincere gratitude to Dr. Faiza Khurshid, who has held this role on an interim basis since July 1, 2023. Her thoughtful and considerate leadership of the department has helped the team work towards its goals in clinical care, education, and research.

Dr. Samaan is currently a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University, and Pediatric Endocrinologist at McMaster Children’s Hospital. In this role, he provides clinical care for children and youth living with endocrine disorders and obesity. He developed and leads the interdisciplinary type 2 diabetes program at McMaster.

Dr. Samaan has extensive leadership experience in academic management and program development and held the role of Director of Research and Scholarship, Michael G. De Groote School of Medicine, McMaster University. Dr. Samaan is a passionate teacher of many undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate trainees.

After earning his undergraduate medical degree from Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Samaan completed his pediatric training in Ireland. He pursued pediatric endocrinology fellowship training at Sick Kids in Toronto. While at Sick Kids, he completed a Master’s degree at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto. He also completed Postdoctoral Research Fellowship training at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, U.S.A.

Dr. Samaan leads a program of research that is focused on studying pediatric diabetes and obesity. The goal of the program is to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these conditions. He has received funding from several agencies including current funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He has authored more than 80 papers and two book chapters. Along with knowledge dissemination and patient and family engagement efforts, this body of work has had practice-changing impacts on care and research.

Please join Dean Philpott in congratulating Dr. Samaan on his appointment.

Dr. M. Constantine Samaan appointed Head, Department of Pediatrics

Related topics

Explore Our Stories