When Fahd Dibsh arrived in Australia in 2010, he didn’t know exactly where the journey would take him. Already qualified as a nurse in Saudi Arabia, he came to study English, motivated by a desire to grow and expand his opportunities in healthcare. What followed was a journey defined by education, persistence, and purpose, one that would take him from clinical practice into research, while keeping patient care firmly at its centre.

In 2014 Fahd completed a Bachelor of Nursing, before going on to undertake a Master of Nursing at the University of Sydney in 2018. These experiences strengthened not only his clinical skills, but his commitment to patient-centred care, particularly in complex environments like intensive care. But it was during his clinical training that something shifted.

“Seeing how patients responded differently to treatments, and how important communication and shared decision-making were, had a lasting impact on me,” he reflects. Those moments stayed with him, gradually shaping a new direction.

Working closely with patients, Fahd began to notice that healthcare decisions are rarely straightforward.

“My clinical experience showed me that treatment decisions are often complex,” Fahd says. “That made me want to better understand how patients and clinicians make those decisions.” 

In 2024, he took the next step, beginning a PhD at the University of Sydney, marking a significant milestone in a journey that began more than a decade earlier.

Fahd’s research now sits within the Sydney School of Public Health. While his work focuses on sports-related injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures, it remains closely connected to his background in nursing.

“My clinical and academic journey in nursing has been an important foundation for my current research,” he explains. “It aligns closely with patient care, particularly in supporting better decision-making and improving outcomes.”

Fahd’s PhD focuses broadly on the management of sports-related injuries, with a strong emphasis on how treatment decisions are made. As part of this work, he has completed a major research project exploring decision-making for people who rupture their ACL, with the resulting paper now accepted for publication in a leading journal in the field. He is also completing a systematic review on opioid use following ACL surgery, an area with important implications for patient safety and care.

“These areas are important because they directly impact patient outcomes and healthcare systems,” he says. “I hope my work contributes to more informed, patient-centred care.” 

Importantly, Fahd continues to work as a nurse alongside his research, a balance that ensures his work remains grounded in real-world practice.

“That ongoing clinical experience keeps my focus on patient-centred care and real-world decision-making,” he says. 

For Fahd, education has been central to every stage of his journey.

“To me, empowerment means having the knowledge, confidence, and support to make informed decisions and advocate for patients,” he says. 

Education didn’t just build his skills, it opened new pathways. “My education enabled me to grow from a student nurse into a researcher,” he reflects. “It gives you the ability to think critically and contribute to improving healthcare.” 

Alongside his academic and clinical work, Fahd has also been raising a large family, even welcoming a newborn during his PhD.

Balancing research, study, and family life has not been without its challenges, but for Fahd, it has also been deeply rewarding.

“Having a strong support system and a clear sense of purpose has helped me navigate this,” he says. 

For current nursing students and early-career professionals, Fahd’s advice is simple: “Stay curious and open to opportunities,” he says. “Further study or research can be challenging, but it’s incredibly rewarding, and it allows you to improve patient care on a broader scale.” 

From arriving in Australia to study English, to publishing research in leading journals, Fahd’s journey reflects the evolving role of nursing today, one that extends beyond the bedside into research, leadership, and impact.

And it reinforces a powerful idea: when nurses are empowered through education, they don’t just support healthcare systems, they help shape the future of them.