Dr. Alaa Elnajjar
“COVID-19 left a lasting mark on me—and on every clinician I know. The emotional toll felt, at times, like what we hear from those returning from war: relentless, overwhelming, and hard to carry alone.
We created Buddies Space because burnout in healthcare didn’t just rise during the pandemic—it deepened. What was missing was a safe, trusted space where clinicians could support one another, speak openly, and remind each other: we will get through this together.”
— Alaa, Founder
OUR FOUNDERS
Dr. Alaa Elnajjar
Buddies Space was founded by Dr. Alaa Elnajjar, a child and adolescent psychiatrist who experienced burnout firsthand. Even with clinical awareness, navigating it alone proved difficult.