Students interested in a career in public health have been invited to apply for a prestigious scholarship.

The Dr Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship is awarded every year to students who want to pursue a career or professional development.

The number of scholarships awarded and their value varies from year to year. The scholarship programme began in 2008.

A ministry of health spokeswoman said: “Scholarships are awarded for a combination of academic achievement, financial need and choice of healthcare profession that would be most beneficial to public health in Bermuda.”

She added that public health priorities included rehabilitative therapies, nursing, social work, environmental health, dental hygiene, and maternal care.

Applicants must be a Bermuda resident, have Bermuda status or a permanent resident’s certificate, have been accepted for an approved course at an accredited institution and have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better.

The deadline for applications is April 30.

Dr Ball was the first woman doctor to practise in Bermuda.

She graduated from Liverpool University Medical School in 1949 and returned to Bermuda in 1954. Dr Ball died in March 2011, aged 86.

The spokeswoman said: “The Government of Bermuda is pleased to recognise her by awarding scholarships to public health professionals in her honour.”

• For more information visit www.gov.bm/barbara-ball-scholarship