The University of Sydney was Dr Sami Mushta’s number one choice due to its reputation and rigorous curriculum in public health.
In 2015, Sami Mushta travelled from his home in Saudi Arabia to begin his studies in the Master of Public Health as an international student at the University of Sydney.
Sami describes his time as a public health student at the University of Sydney as both enriching and transformative.
"The course broadened my understanding of global health challenges and equipped me with the practical skills to drive real change," says Sami.
"The supportive faculty and diverse student community made learning an inspiring experience."
As part of his studies, Sami undertook courses that focused on disease prevention and control, which later took on new meaning during his Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine and Health) (PhD) studies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was able to apply practical insights into public health principles in real-world settings, especially at the clinical school during COVID-19 where I witnessed the remarkable spirit of cooperation among healthcare professionals,” says Sami.
A project with public health impact
After completing his Master of Public Health degree, Sami began a Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine and Health) (PhD) which focused on the epidemiology of cerebral palsy in Arabic-speaking countries, including Saudi Arabia.
“My ultimate goal was to establish a national cerebral palsy register in Saudi Arabia to monitor trends, identify intervention opportunities, and improve the quality of care for individuals with cerebral palsy and their families,” explains Sami.
Sami was driven by the desire for his work to enhance the quality of life of individuals with cerebral palsy and their families in Saudi Arabia.
“With 10 years of experience as a public health physician specialising in public health and preventive medicine, the expertise I possessed, combined with the insights from my Master's, became the foundation for conceptualising a project with a positive public health impact.
“This would be achieved through a series of epidemiological studies, establishing the groundwork for a national cerebral palsy register.
"Such registries, like the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register which has contributed to the decline of cerebral palsy in Australia, are invaluable databases that strengthen intervention measures and control the cerebral palsy burden."
From Sydney to Saudi Arabia
After completing his Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine and Health) (PhD), Sami returned to his employer, the Public Health Authority in Saudi Arabia, where he currently works as a Health Expert.
His role involves developing and implementing public health strategies to address critical health challenges.
His long-term aspiration is to improve outcomes for children with disabilities and their families through scientific research.
“In my role, I focus on public health initiatives, policy development, and research," says Sami.
"We are actively exploring funding opportunities to advance my PhD project and establish a national cerebral palsy registry in Saudi Arabia in the coming years.
"While we are still in the early stages, I am optimistic that this initiative will come to fruition.”
Sami sees potential future collaborations between Public Health Authority and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA), the organisation responsible for the Australian CP Register.
“I have always believed that prevention is better than cure," notes Sami.
"Public health allows me to work on preventive strategies that can create a broader, lasting impact on population health."