In line with the wise Leadership’s directives to establish happiness as a lifestyle in the UAE, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, MBRU, appointed an Assistant Dean of Student Happiness and Wellbeing at its College of Medicine, the first position of its kind in the UAE and the University.

Dr. Laila Al Suwaidi, the Assistant Professor of Molecular Hematology in the College of Medicine now assumes the role of the assistant dean of student happiness and wellbeing. Earlier this year Dr. Al Suwaidi along with Dr. Khawla Belhoul, Director of Dubai Dental Clinic, a clinical partner of MBRU, attended the National Program for Happiness and Positivity, initiated by Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness. The program aims at developing happiness ambassadors by equipping them with intuitive and practical skills necessary to become the drivers of happiness and positivity in their respective organizations and beyond. Dr. Al Suwaidi & Dr. Belhoul completed the 5-month program in April of this year becoming MBRU’s first happiness ambassadors.

Dr. Al Suwaidi’s new role caters to students’ overall happiness, wellbeing, and satisfaction. Her objective is to connect with students and help them with any inquiries and ensure their needs are met at all times.  The new position is an initiative by the University complimenting its constant efforts to provide a healthy, happy, and a stress-free environment starting with admissions to graduation.

The Assistant Dean’s main duties include leading efforts to promote student health and well-being, identify new and innovative extracurricular programs, mentor and create opportunities for growth and development of students, and lead comprehensive student engagement and professional development activities.

“Being appointed as the Assistant Dean of Student Happiness and Wellbeing at MBRU is an honor, and definitely a happy occasion. It’s both a privilege and a responsibility to look after our student’s wellbeing and satisfaction here at MBRU. It’s paramount to ensure their requests and concerns are addressed. This allows our students to focus more on their studies, and on themselves.” Dr. Al Suwaidi stated.

Further adding, “At MBRU we believe that our values reflect our actions, and innovatively creating a position that caters to student’s happiness is an evident illustration of living up to our values of establishing an organizational culture built on trust, respect, and a shared purpose. The happiness and satisfaction survey was the very first step we took in measuring our people’s attitudes and thoughts about the university, and through it we were able to identify areas of improvements which overall helped in creating a solid internal happiness strategy.”