Healing the System: Dr. Basem Gohar’s Film Unpacks the Health Care Staffing Crisis

Dr. Basem Gohar, a clinical psychologist and researcher at the Ontario Veterinary College, is addressing one of Canada’s most pressing healthcare challenges: workforce retention. High rates of absenteeism and turnover, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have left health care systems stretched thin, highlighting the urgent need for practical solutions.

With funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Gohar is applying a solution-focused framework, originally developed in psychotherapy, to explore organizational strategies that support retention. “Our study looks at the perspectives of both frontline professionals and management in professions facing major staffing challenges, like medical laboratory technologists and mental health clinicians,” says Gohar. “The goal is to translate our findings into practical tools, such as guidebooks and webinars, that help health care organizations strengthen workforce stability.”

For more on Dr. Gohar’s research, his team and other projects in his lab, visit the UGROHW lab page.

Gohar’s work also extends beyond traditional research. Supported by a CIHR dissemination grant and seed funding from Laurentian University’s Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, he produced a documentary highlighting lesser-known health care workers and their experience with burnout. The video examines the combined effects of staffing shortages and high job demands, sharing real stories from the frontlines to illustrate the often unseen contributions of medical laboratory professionals, respiratory therapists, occupational and physical therapists, and others. Gohar explains, “Staff retention, which contributes to staffing shortages, is a primary concern right now in health care. Our documentary shows that these roles are essential to patient care, even if the public rarely sees them.”

Through both thorough research and compelling storytelling, Gohar is advancing understanding of health workforce challenges while providing actionable solutions to support those who care for Canadians every day.