Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda Awards Largest Scholarship To Date Student Awarded $100,000 to Pursue Medical Studies

In celebration of its 50th anniversary of volunteer services to the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB), the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda (HAB) is awarding a one-time $100,000 scholarship to Bermudian student Ms. Merate-Kristos Place. The HAB Scholarship Selection Committee’s criteria included marks, community involvement and an essay submission.

“We are delighted to offer this $100,000 scholarship to such a deserving student who is pursuing medical studies,” said Joy Williams, president of the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda. “This is a wonderful way to mark the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda’s 50th anniversary, and we wish Merate-Kristos all the best in her scholastic endeavours.”

Background Information – Ms Place

Ms Place will continue her medical studies at the University of London Guy’s, King’s and St. Thomas’ School of Medicine, King’s College, in London this September.

After attending West Pembroke Primary School, Ms Place went on to graduate with Honours and at the top of her class from The Berkeley Institute in 1998 with a GPA at 3.8. She then obtained a two-year International Baccalaureate diploma from the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West in New Mexico, and went on to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with pre-medical requirements from Emory University with a 3.86 GPA.

At 16 years old, Ms Place began volunteering at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital as a candy striper, where she first discovered her interest in becoming a medical doctor. She continued to volunteer at the Egleston Children’s Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital while studying in Atlanta.

Her dedication to the study of medicine has taken her as far afield as Australia and Bolivia. While in Bolivia studying rural healthcare, Merate-Kristos said she realized that the mark of a good doctor is one who has a commitment to serve their patients to the best of their ability despite the accompanying sacrifices. She hopes to one day serve the medical community in Bermuda.

“The Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda provides a very important service to King Edward VII Memorial and St. Brendan’s Hospital. We commend the HAB for offering this generous scholarship, and congratulate Merate-Kristos on this great accomplishment,” said Joan Dillas-Wright, chief executive officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

The Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda
The HAB gives 50,000 hours of service each year to the Bermuda Hospitals Board, and is present in numerous support areas of the hospital including the Continuing Care Unit, pharmacy and chapel. As part of its focus on education, the HAB regularly provides candy stripers between the ages of 14 and 18 with educational programmes and scholarships.

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