On the recommendation of Dean Jane Philpott, Matthew Evans, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University, has appointed Dr. Zainab Samaan as Head, Department of Psychiatry, effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Samaan has also been appointed SEAMO Chair in Research and Innovation and joins the Psychiatry department as a professor. All appointments are effective until June 30, 2029.
Dean Philpott extends her gratitude to Dr. Leslie Flynn for guiding the Department of Psychiatry on an interim basis since Sept. 1, 2023. Her extensive leadership experience allowed the Department to seamlessly continue its academic, clinical, and research missions.
Dr. Samaan joins Queen’s from McMaster University where she is currently a Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, and a Psychiatrist at the Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.
Dr. Samaan is passionate about mentoring and coaching early career faculty and supporting undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate trainees. She is the Director of the Clinician Investigator Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University.
Dr. Samaan’s research interests include mood and substance use disorders, and behavioural interventions trials. Her work takes a patient-centric approach focused on identifying genetic and social determinants of course of disease and treatment response. Dr. Samaan has published over 150 manuscripts and received research funding from national and international agencies. She has also served as a committee member, scientific officer, and external reviewer for local, national, and international funding bodies.
Dr. Samaan completed her undergraduate medical education in Iraq. She then pursued clinical Psychiatry training in Ireland and the United Kingdom. She also holds a Master’s degree from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD in psychiatric genetics from the Institute of Psychiatry and Kings College London, UK.
Dr. Samaan wasnamed as a University Scholar at McMaster University, and has many awards for excellence in teaching and research mentorship.
Please join Dean Philpott in congratulating Dr. Samaan on her appointment.