MWI clients art, photography and poetry exhibition opens on Friday

(Thursday 18 September 2025): The annual MindFrame PhotoVoice Exhibition, in which clients of the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) showcase their art, photography and poetry opens this Friday 19 September from 5-7pm at the Bermuda Society of Arts at City Hall.

The theme MWI clients responded to this year is ‘Comm_nity, where are u?’

Art Therapist, Rhiannon Fletcher, comments, “we are excited to be exhibiting art, photography and poetry from people who are clients of the MWI services, including mental health, addiction and intellectual disability services.

“This exhibition means so much to us and our clients,” she adds. “It brings the community together to appreciate and gain insight into the creativity and expressiveness of people who are journeys of recovery from mental illness or addiction, and those living with intellectual disabilities.”

Rehab Aide Zharia Bean says, “It’s really special to come to the exhibition’s opening night, when clients and their families have the opportunity to see responses to their work, and to feel included and celebrated in a public space. This is a powerful exhibition and if someone can’t make the opening, we encourage them to pop by before it closes on Monday 13 October.

“The comments and narratives that are supplied with the art and photos give an amazing appreciation of the creative power of the human mind,” Zharia adds. “I’d also note that the artists and photographers get a portion of any of their works that are sold, as does the art and photography programme at MWI, which goes back into supplies and putting on future exhibits.”

Dr Michael Ashton takes on new role at BHB

Wednesday 10 September 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Michael Ashton as chief of infectious diseases and patient centred medical home.

Dr Ashton previously served as BHB’s chief of medicine from 2016 to 2023 before leaving the role for private practice, although he continued with BHB as a consultant infectious diseases specialist.

Chief of Staff Dr Anna Neilson-Williams said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Ashton back to BHB full time. As our director of infectious diseases and chief of medicine through the pandemic, he was instrumental in leading the hospitals and the community through a very challenging time.”

As chief of infectious diseases, Dr Ashton is responsible for all matters related to infectious diseases and epidemiology at BHB, including leading the organisation in preparing for future pandemics and other major epidemiological threats. He is responsible for ensuring effective infection prevention and control measures throughout the hospitals, and leading efforts to mitigate clinical risks related to infectious diseases and healthcare-associated infections.

“Dr Ashton is also taking on a new challenge in leading our Patient Centred Medical Home,” said Dr Neilson-Williams. “The PCMH is a critical service that assists people with complex chronic diseases who frequently need emergency or inpatient care. Most individuals who access the PCMH have more than one chronic condition and many are under- or uninsured. Helping them better manage their conditions results in a better quality of life for our patients and reduced demand on our Emergency Department and acute care beds.”

As chief of PCMH, Dr Ashton is responsible for overseeing the multidisciplinary service and expanding it to include remote management of patients. He will also collaborate with the chief of psychiatry on community mental health initiatives and will oversee population health management programmes.

CEO Scott Pearman said: “The threat of another pandemic is the new reality for healthcare organisations around the world. Dr Ashton has the expertise and proven experience we need to ensure our hospitals are well prepared. We are grateful to have him back at BHB full time, heading up this critical area. We also welcome Dr Ashton’s leadership in the Patient Centred Medical Home, assisting some of our most challenged patients to live a fuller, healthier life.

“As a Bermudian physician and medical leader, Dr Ashton has provided guidance and mentorship for local students through our Summer Student Programme for many years. We hope this new role serves as inspiration for the next generation of Bermudian healthcare clinicians and leaders.”

Dr Ashton first joined BHB in November 2011 as an infectious diseases specialist and hospital epidemiologist. He is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr Ashton earned a Bachelor of Science in pre med and psychology at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, and attended medical school at the University of Vermont. After completing his training in internal medicine and primary care as an intern and resident at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, USA, Dr Ashton completed a fellowship in infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology at Yale.

Dr Ashton will continue to see inpatients and outpatients as BHB’s consultant in infectious disease and epidemiology.

Temporary KEMH Road Closure on Wednesday 10 September

(Monday 8 September 2025): Bermuda Hospitals Board today advises that the road through the KEMH campus that connects Berry Hill and Point Finger Roads will not be accessible as a through road on Wednesday 10 September, from about 7:30am through to at least 4pm.

The road will be blocked near the Orthopaedic (Fracture) Clinic entrance (the old Emergency Department). People will be able to walk from the Berry Hill Visitors Car Park and access the entrance, but will not be able to drive through the KEMH campus.  People coming from Point Finger Road will be able to access up to the General Wing lobby and Agape House.

The closure is caused by the delivery of new nuclear medicine equipment, part of the Diagnostic Imaging upgrade announced in February.

BHB opens UCC for the public holidays and encourages a safe holiday for all

Tuesday 29 July 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) today advises that the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre will open over the public holidays.

The hours of operation will be from noon to 8pm on Emancipation Day (Thursday 31 July) and Mary Prince Day (Friday 1 August). This will be in addition to its regular weekend hours of 9am to 9pm (Saturday and Sunday).

Chief of Emergency and Hyperbaric Services, Dr Chikezie Okereke, comments: “We urge everyone to prioritise their health and safety over the entire Cup Match holiday weekend. It’s a great holiday to be with friends and family, but please plan in advance to ensure you have your medications and supplies. Don’t drink alcohol and drive, and be prepared for hot and sunny weather if you are out on a boat, at the beach or at the game – drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, a hat and shirt.

“Our UCC service will be there for minor illnesses and accidents, and our Emergency Department as usual will be there for more serious conditions,” he adds, “but look out for yourself, your friends and family.  You don’t want a medical emergency interrupting your Cup Match holiday weekend activities and fun.”

While the significant pressure experienced at the beginning of the month at KEMH has eased, CEO & President, Scott Pearman reminds people to take those ready for discharge home before and during the holiday period.

“Along with being responsible for your own health, please don’t forget family members who may be ready for discharge around the holiday period, and don’t bring someone in just for a safe place to stay,” he says.

“The hospital is not somewhere your loved ones should be for the holiday weekend unless they need to be here. This will cause problems for people with real emergency and acute care needs. Be safe yourself and do the right thing for your loved ones.”

BHB summer students see live surgeries through partnership with Liberty Science Center

Wednesday 23 July 2025: BHB partnered with Liberty Science Center for the first time this year to give a select group of its summer students the opportunity to watch live surgeries as part of their work experience at BHB.

Erin Basden, Coordinator HR Programmes

Coordinator-HR Programmes Erin Basden explains: “We secured 10 spots for a number of surgeries. It was great to be able to offer such ah meaningful experience as part of our summer student programme and we will be looking to continue this partnership in the future. It was very informative, eye-opening and offered our students another avenue to benefit their career journey.”

The live video events were held throughout June. The BHB summer students were able to peer into an operating room to see a kidney transplant, robotic surgery and neurosurgery, and were able to communicate with the doctors. There was also a Meet the Surgeon session with a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon who joined live and presented students with recorded footage from one of her procedures and discussed her career path.

One of the 10 BHB summer students who participated was Bermudian Sanaa Simmons, a first-year medical student who is studying at the University of Liverpool, who worked in the Quality & Risk Management Department at BHB over the summer.

Sanaa Simmons, BHB Summer Student

“The opportunity to witness live surgeries provided by the Liberty Science Centre was insightful and inspiring,” she says.

“I particularly enjoyed observing the paediatric ACL reconstruction, and Dr Samara Friedman was eager to answer our questions and share her story. From growing up as an athlete, to employing her dexterous skills throughout her younger life, she explained how paediatric orthopaedic surgery was best fit for her.

“Moreover, the kidney transplant surgery was well delivered; the procedure was narrated in an accessible way.

“We became further educated on triage processes, organ rejection, and long-term lifestyle changes to patients – ultimately reinforcing how imperative it is to showcase empathy in the medical field.”

BHB welcomes 45 summer students

Thursday 17 July 2025: Bermuda Hospitals Board has welcomed 45 local students with summer employment this year.

“The students are working in departments related to their specific field of study and range from clinical areas like nursing, the lab, imaging services and mental health services, to information technology and finance,” said Nyon Steede, director of human resources and operations.

This year 12 of the 45 are medical students, with seven studying nursing. Nineteen students are pursuing studies in a variety of other fields.

“We are pleased with the high calibre of young Bermudians joining us this year,” said Mr Steede. “Following the successful partnership with BHB’s Intellectual Disability Programme last year, we were able to place five of their clients into our summer student programme, providing these promising young people equal opportunity to be acquainted with and gain workplace experience.”

The summer students employed by BHB were selected from 141 applicants. This year’s cohort is aged between 20 and 29. The minimum age accepted is 18. Two of the students are in their first year of college, while the remainder have been in college or university for two or more years.

“BHB scholarship recipients are given first preference in placements,” said Mr Steede. “This year we have welcomed five general scholarship winners: medical students Jahmir Celestine, Storm Gibbons, Veronica Swan-DeGraff and Shani Tucker, and nursing student Sarae Botelho.”

CEO & President Scott Pearman said: “We hope to inspire and give some practical exposure to students in their chosen field of study through our summer programme. Eager to develop the next generation of healthcare professionals, we also want to entice them to return to us after graduation for fulltime positions.

“In addition, BHB has partnered with the Ministry of Education. Through the year we will be providing opportunities for students at Berkeley Institute – the sciences and healthcare signature school – to learn more about careers in health professions. In the coming years, we hope to see these students join our summer programme and be awarded BHB scholarships to pursue their goals.”

Students interested in becoming summer interns at BHB should look for application notices in late December. The deadline is always the last day of February, with next summer’s deadline set for Saturday 28 February 2026.