Dr. Lina Faisal El Kibbi is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Rheumatology at Alfaisal University and has served as an Adult Rheumatology Consultant at SMC Hospitals, Riyadh, KSA since 2007.
In addition to her clinical roles, Dr. El Kibbi also holds key positions such as Director of Medical Academic Affairs, Designated Institutional Official for Saudi Board Residency Program, and Program Director for Internship at Alfaisal University.
Her expertise lies in the field of Rheumatology, with a Fellowship completed at the American University of Beirut.
Passionate about patient education, Dr. El Kibbi is the founder of the Arab Adult Arthritis Awareness Group, a coalition of 19 rheumatologists from 17 Arab countries dedicated to educating Arabic-speaking populations about rheumatic diseases.
She has a strong commitment to research, with numerous publications and speaking engagements at national and international conferences.
We are delighted that Dr Lina El Kibbi will be speaking in Riyadh this February as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East. We caught up with her to find out how she’s feeling in the run up to the summit.
Hi Dr El Kibbi, we are thrilled you will be speaking at our Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East in February. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
My pleasure to be a speaker in the Wellbeing at Work Middle East Summit. Thank you for asking, I am grateful (Alhamdulillah).
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
As the Director of Medical Academic Affairs and Designated Institutional Official for the Saudi Board Residency Training Program and Program Director for the Internship at Alfaisal University, it is my duty to oversee residents, interns, and faculty team members. One of the key challenges I face is ensuring that residents and interns find a balance between their studies, work, and personal life, as this can impact their overall performance in both academic and social aspects of their training experience.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
We work within a private academic hospital called SMC Hospitals, providing residents with designated break areas to unwind, fully equipped on-call rooms to relax in, and access to SMC1 medical academic affairs (MAA) lounges. We also offer treadmills in on-call rooms for both male and female residents to exercise. We ensure that their on-call experiences adhere to SCFHS policies and offer support during exam periods. Our program director is available to assist residents, who can report any issues to them. If concerns continue, they can be escalated to the well-being committee through the MAA office.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
One day, I was once an intern and resident myself, so I understand the value of support. I am dedicated to caring for the mental health and overall well-being of my interns and residents. My door is always open to them, ready to offer support whenever they need it. I strive to assist within my scope of authority to provide the necessary support
Dr El Kibbi will be speaking in Riyadh at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East which takes place in Riyadh, Dubai, Cairo and virtually. Further details on the Summit can be found here.
