The first ever student from Kuwait to gain a PhD in Palliative Care from Lancaster University has said she wants to encourage others to follow her lead.
Tala Al Dabbous said: "Being the first person in my country to obtain a PhD in palliative care is a milestone I am proud of, but I see it less as a finish line and more as the opening of a door."
She is currently CEO and Director of Clinical Services at the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) and Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice (BACCH) where she also Head of Clinical Dietetics. BACCH was the first children's hospice in the region and is the largest purpose-built children's hospice in the world.
"Finding Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice led me into national advocacy, international collaborations, humanitarian and educational missions, research, teaching, and countless opportunities to contribute to the advancement of palliative care. Today, I have the privilege of leading the hospice. It is the most rewarding job in the world, and one I do not take lightly. Supporting children with serious illnesses and their families is an enormous responsibility that requires patience, compassion, empathy, humility, and a deep commitment to those we serve."
One of Tala's strongest motivations for pursuing a PhD was recognizing how under-researched palliative care remains across the Gulf and the wider region.
"While there has been significant progress in healthcare, we still have major gaps in evidence, policy development, service evaluation, education, and workforce capacity related to palliative care. Much of the available literature comes from Western contexts, which means that many of the cultural, religious, social, and healthcare-system factors unique to our region are not adequately represented."
Tala explained why she chose Lancaster University for her postgraduate degree.
"I wanted a university that had a strong reputation in palliative care research and a department that genuinely understood the complexities of serious illness, quality of life, and supportive care. Lancaster had a long-standing international reputation in palliative care and was home to researchers who were shaping the field through policy, education, and clinical research. For someone who wanted not only to generate evidence but also to influence practice and policy, it felt like the right environment."
She said she felt at home at Atkinson's coffee shop in the city and on the Bailrigg campus where she loved the rural surroundings.
"People were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and there was a real sense of community among staff and students. The campus has a calmness to it that is surprisingly conducive to thinking deeply about difficult topics. Coming from the Gulf, seeing so much green every day never stopped feeling special."
Her wish is to encourage others to follow her example and help to build a strong palliative care base in the GCC.
"My hope is that when people read my story, they also learn about palliative care, understand its importance, and perhaps consider pursuing the field themselves. The Gulf region needs more researchers, clinicians, educators, advocates, and policymakers dedicated to palliative care. Meaningful change happens when a field grows from one voice into many, and I hope this achievement encourages others to become part of that movement."
