Officials selected an inaugural chief wellness officer for GW Hospital, the Medical Faculty Associates and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences announced Wednesday.

Kaylan Baban, an assistant professor of medicine and the director of the lifestyle medicine program at MFA, will lead the new GWell Center for Health Care Professionals, a hub for wellness initiatives across the University’s medical programs, the release states. Baban will oversee wellness programs for students, faculty, health care professionals and alumni associated with GW’s medical enterprise.

“There is a need nationally for initiatives that support those working in health care in all capacities, whether administration, building services or direct patient care,” Baban said in the release.

Officials said the center will help create a “just” culture that allows health care professionals to be held accountable for their mistakes on the job in the hopes of combatting anxiety, burnout, depression and job dissatisfaction, according to the release. The center currently offers programs like self-care and mindfulness courses and exercise classes at Equinox Sports Club.

The center will also allow medical school graduate students, residents, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, alumni and staff to get involved by joining the Health Care Professionals Wellness Advisory Council. They can also submit an application to launch a new wellness program, the release states.

“There are real wellness challenges specific to those working in the health care and health sciences fields, in all capacities,” Baban said in the release. “We need to support folks in doing their work so we as an institution can do our best for our beneficiaries in the community.”