Ten awardees have been handed Dr Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarships.

The ministry prioritised scholarships to help fill known gaps in capacity, including nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work, and environmental health.

In total, 14 students are currently receiving the scholarship, including past awardees, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Seniors.

The awardees 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

• Danielle Simons, public health, University of London

• Azari Thomas, economics (pre-dentistry), University of Virginia

More than 50 applications were received this year, with the ministry stating: “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 14 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 Organisation 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.