Dr Stephen Ebejer has over a decade of experience in higher education, and a decade of professional practice in surgical and perioperative nursing. As a senior nurse, he played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the transplant team for four years. He also developed a structured training programme for novice theatre nurses, consisting of supporting their progression with a formalised and gradual ‘traineeship’ approach.
The first Master’s was in People Management and Development at the University of Leicester in 2010, where his research explored leadership and management practices influencing healthcare professional retention. He expanded his expertise with a second Master’s degree, in Creative Thinking and Innovation from the Edward de Bono Institute in 2013, focusing on how creativity in organisations enhances innovative work practices to boost organisational productivity and effectiveness.
In 2023, Stephen was awarded PhD in Management from Glasgow Caledonian University becoming the first nurse in Malta to specialise to a doctoral level in Management. His thesis repositioned errors in operating theatres – traditionally viewed as disruptions – as opportunities for learning and development, thereby improving patient safety and employee outcomes. By identifying both barriers and facilitators to successful learning, the research demonstrated how human error can serve as a catalyst for growth at individual, team, and organisational levels.
As a health and organisational scientist, he continues to investigate critical workforce challenges through transdisciplinary research – transcending the traditional disciplinary boundaries – by focusing on learning and development; the impact of organisational culture in healthcare (such as, in shaping or impeding error-to-learning processes); and workforce issues, such as staff retention, burnout, engagement, and incivility.