The Ministry of Health and Seniors today announces the ten awardees of this year’s Dr. Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarships. In total fourteen students are currently receiving the scholarship, including past awardees.
This year the Ministry received over 50 applications, many of an exceedingly high standard. The Ministry wishes all applicants every success as they continue their studies and encourages all eligible students to apply next year.
The selection committee had a very difficult choice as there were many deserving candidates. This pool of talented students is a boon for Bermuda’s health sector. After due consideration, the fourteen receiving the scholarships stood out as having a combination of academic achievement, financial need and choice of healthcare profession that would be most beneficial to public health in Bermuda.
The World Health Organization estimates that, due to growing populations, changing disease patterns and economic trends, there will be about 40 million new health sector jobs by 2030, mostly in middle- and high-income countries.
Since the scholarship was founded in 2008 the Ministry of Health and Seniors has financially assisted 49 Bermudians who are beginning careers or pursuing professional development in public health. Scholarships are offered for study in a wide range of healthcare professions. This year the Ministry prioritized the following areas where there are known gaps in capacity: nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work, and environmental health.
Based on these criteria, this year’s recipients are:
Chioma Nwasike* Medicine Howard University
Teleza Pitcher* Dental Surgery Howard University
Reglindis Ratteray* Nursing Southern Adventist
Morrissa Tucker* Social Work Rutgers University
Michaela Bean Nursing Winston Salem State University
Pashé Douglas-Sampson Occupational Therapy Quinnipiac University
Taylor Hill Linguistics (pre-speech pathology) Queens University
Zaire Morris Social Work Oakwood University
Safiya Nurse Occupational Therapy Howard University
Alesha Page Medicine University of Medicine and Health
Sciences
Shuntelle Paynter Mental Health Counselling North Carolina A&T State University
Tenneil Ratteray Physical Therapy Andrews University
Dr. Danielle Simons Public Health University of London
Azari Thomas Economics (pre-dentistry) University of Virginia
*repeat recipients
(SEE PHOTO INFORMATION BELOW)
Editor’s Note: Dr. Barbara Bertha Ball was born in Bermuda in 1924. Following her graduation from Liverpool University Medical School in 1949 and a short working stint in the United Kingdom, Dr. Ball returned to Bermuda in 1954 and devoted her life to the needs of the downtrodden. She was the first female physician to practice medicine in Bermuda, and a tireless champion for people’s rights. The Government of Bermuda is pleased to recognise her by awarding scholarships to public health professionals in her honour.
Photo: L-R top row: Chioma Nwasike, Morrissa Tucker, Zaire Morris, Pashé Douglas-Sampson, Reglindis Ratteray, Alesha Page, Teleza Pitcher
L-R bottom row: Taylor Hill, Azari Thomas, Tenneil Ratteray, Michaela Bean, Safiya Nurse, Shuntelle Paynter, Dr. Danielle Simons