Bermuda Hospitals Board awards $191,000 in scholarships

Monday 22 September 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is pleased to announce it has awarded a total of $191,000 in scholarships to 14 local students.

In a ceremony held in July, the students were presented certificates of their awards in front of their families and BHB leaders.

Thirteen students each received a BHB general scholarship in their specialty area, valued up to $15,000 for one year and one received the Dr Keith Cunningham award. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited educational institution approved by a relevant licensing council and maintain at least a 3.0 or equivalent grade point average.

Six of the general scholarship recipients are medical students and received BHB Medicine scholarships. Keiazia Burchall-Busby, Ameera Gilbert and Gabriella Medeiros each were awarded $15,000 for one year. Delia Ebbin and Jade Richardson were awarded $12,000 each for a year and Calais Darrell was awarded $5,000 for a year.

Zahra Philip received the Dr Keith Cunningham Medical Technologist scholarship in the amount of $15,000 for one year.

Nursing students received one-year awards. Milahn Powell and Kaela Riley each received $15,000 and Jahkaida Francis-Hollis was awarded $12,000.

BHB Allied Health scholarships of $15,000 for one year were awarded to: Sanjayah Ible Allwood who is studying Health and Social Care; cytopathology student Zekiah Lewis and radiology student Nikia Simons.

Pharmacy student Daelynn Richards was awarded the BHB Pharmacy scholarship of $15,000 for one year.

“Submissions from all 14 awardees this year were outstanding,” said BHB Chief People Officer, Paul Jones. “I urge our students to take advantage of as many opportunities to learn as they can and then return to BHB to share their expertise.”

BHB CEO & President Scott Pearman said: “There is tremendous opportunity for immediate and future job growth for those in healthcare fields. We are proud to support these 14 scholarship recipients in realising their dream of becoming healthcare professionals.

“BHB can offer immediate employment and guarantee employment over the next five years to newly qualified registered nurses with demonstrated competencies.

“Bermuda’s high rates of chronic disease coupled with an increasing elder population, requires a broad cross section of healthcare professionals to manage their healthcare needs. This fact ensures that compassionate and highly capable graduates can secure careers in their chosen fields, here at home.”

“I thank the scholarship recipients for investing in themselves to serve the future needs of our community by taking care of Bermuda.”

Student biographies

Keiazia Burchall-Busby

College/University: St George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada

“From a young age, I encountered limitations in the healthcare system through my own experiences as a patient. This fuelled my passion to serve and drive a transformative change in our community,” says Keiazia.

“As a future physician-scientist currently engaged in genetic research, I am particularly interested in how personalised medicine can improve our community’s health outcomes and help reduce disparities in our system.”

Ameera Gilbert

College/University: University of the West of England, UK

“My long-term goal is to return to Bermuda as a qualified anaesthesiologist, where I hope to provide patient-centred care of the highest standard,” says Ameera.

Gabriella Medeiros

College/University: University of Warwick, UK

Gabriella says: “I recently graduated from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) with a First-Class Honors in Cognitive Science. In September I begin medical school at the University of Warwick in the UK, where I will fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.

“While I am not yet certain which specialty I will pursue, I am excited to explore the many different fields of medicine over the coming years.

“Ultimately, I aspire to become a compassionate and dedicated physician, and I am committed to one day giving back to the Bermudian community that has supported me throughout my journey.”

Delia Ebbin

College/University: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, UK

Delia says: “I hope to pursue a career in primary care, where I can provide accessible, patient-centred care to Bermudians across all stages of life.

“I am passionate about helping to break down barriers in healthcare, including addressing medical bias and improving health equity within the community.”

Jade Richardson

College/University: Trinity School of Medicine, St Vincent & the Grenadines

Jade says she wants to “pursue a career in internal medicine focusing on providing compassionate, evidence-based care to underserved communities.”

“I’m particularly in specialising in a field that allows both clinical excellence and meaningful patient relationships,” she says.

“Ultimately, I hope to balance a fulfilling medical career with a strong commitment to mentorship, advocacy and long-term impact in global health.”

Calais Darrell

College/University: St George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada

Calais says: “My hope is to come back to Bermuda and work as either a cardiothoracic surgeon or a nephrologist. Long-term, I envision creating free community consultation clinics – especially in some of the broken-down buildings that sit unused in many neighbourhoods.

“I also strongly hope to be able to join together with my fellow Bermudian medical students currently coming up to create these collaborative, grass-roots projects as well as a potential scholarship to create hope for the generation behind us.”

Zahra Philip

College/University: Kingston University, UK

Zahra says: “My career aspirations are firmly rooted in laboratory science, with a goal of becoming a medical technologist. An eye-opening internship revealed to me just how critical the work behind the scenes is – how every precise test can shape a patient’s treatment and save lives.

“This passion drove me to pursue a degree in biomedical science, where I am not only building essential skills, but also embracing new technologies and innovations.

“I am eager to bring this knowledge back home and play an active role in advancing Bermuda’s healthcare, ensuring our community receives the best possible care.”

Milahn Powell

College/University: Trent University, Canada

Milahn is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She says her long term goal is to specialise in medical aesthetics.

“I am deeply committed to providing compassionate high-quality care,” she says. “My dream is to open a medical spa that prioritises both physical and emotional well-being, offering a safe space for persons to regain their confidence and feel empowered in their own skin, especially those affected by trauma or scarring.”

Kaela Riley

College/University: Edge Hill University, UK

Kaela says: “My passion for nursing has been instilled in me since young, as I’ve always gravitated to helping others. I am keen on returning to the island to make a change in nursing within my own community.”

Jahaida Francis Hollis

College/University: Howard University, USA

Jahaida says: “I have always had a passion for working with children, and from a very young age, I knew that I would pursue a profession that would allow me to do so.

“… My goal is to provide quality care and assistance to children in need and pursuing a career as a NICU nurse represents the most effective way to achieve this goal.

“After completing my education, I aim to work daily, helping children. Seeing others suffer due to uncontrollable circumstances pains me especially children and seniors as they cannot always articulate or even understand what they are feeling.

“I know I possess the passion, empathy and values necessary to be a great nurse and I am ready to make a difference in the community by assisting children and their families during difficult times.”

Sanjayah Ible Allwood

College/University: University of Greater Manchester, UK

Sanjayah says: “I am a dedicated second-year student …, currently pursuing my undergraduate bachelor’s in health and social care. I am passionate about making a meaningful impact in the field and am committed to both academic excellence and community service.

“… My long-term goal is to break down barriers created by limited resources and social disparities, ensuring every individual in Bermuda has access to the support they need to thrive.”

Zekiah Lewis

College/University: University of Tennessee, USA

Kyra says: “My current goal is to build a strong foundation as a cytologist and histologist over the next few years gaining hands-on experience in diagnostic laboratory work.

After that I plan to pursue further training to become a pathologist.”

Nikia Simons

College/University: Keiser University, USA

Nikia is studying radiologic technology and plans to specialise in CT and ultrasound. She says: “The reason I chose this career path is because I have a passion for helping others and being a part of their healing process.”

Daelyn Richards

College/University: University of Greenwich, UK

Daelyn plans to return to Bermuda as a pharmacist “and make a meaning impact” in the field.

She is interested in advancing Bermuda’s pharmacy laws and practices and aligning local regulations with international standards. She says this will “enhance public health and ensure safe and effective medication use.”

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