Six Bermudian students have won prestigious scholarships to help them launch careers in public health.

Dr Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarships were handed out to:

• Seelah Stephenson, to study public health at the University of Miami

• Chantae Hollis to study medicine at the John F Kennedy University School of Medicine in California

• Elyssa-June Smith to study occupational therapy at the University of Plymouth in the UK

• Davina Cannonier to study social work, human and social services at Walden University in Minnesota

• Brittany Darko to study public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

• Elinor Lucas Quarterly to study diabetes at the University of Leicester in the UK

The students were chosen for the scholarships based on their academic achievement, financial need and public health priority for their areas of study.

Health minister Kim Wilson said: “I am extremely proud that we can support our young people seeking careers in health professions that support public health.

“This is aligned with the spirit I believe Dr Barbara Ball would have wanted and I know our scholars are honoured to be associated with her noble name.

“We have a shortage of health professionals in Bermuda, particularly in specific areas that benefit public health, and we encourage our young people to consider professions in the health sector as they are enormously fulfilling and there are a great many job opportunities.” Graduates who benefited from the Dr Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship to complete their studies in 2019 were Britney Robinson (pharmacy), Candace Albuoy (social work) and Jennifer Ross (nursing).

Dr Ball was the first Bermudian-born woman to practise medicine in Bermuda and was a tireless champion for human rights and equality.

The 1949 graduate of Liverpool University in the UK devoted her life to helping people in need after she returned to Bermuda in 1954.