Watching her grandfather being airlifted off the island on a number of occasions as his health declined sparked an interest in the medical field for one Bermudian teenager.

Independent cardiovascular researcher and aspiring surgeon Tsana Fisher now wants to help other young people gain a greater understanding of biomedical science.

The 17-year-old, who is in her senior year at The Berkeley Institute, is developing a student-led cardiovascular quantum biology research programme, designed to expose students to advanced topics they may not typically encounter in secondary school.

The programme would introduce young people to areas including quantum biology, cardiovascular science, mitochondrial biology and computational biomedicine, while also teaching them the foundations of scientific research.

“I realised it was not possible to find mentorship in Bermuda,” Ms Fisher said. “I'm working on my own research and making my own research programme.

“I feel like a lot of people can become demotivated on the island by the fact that they don't have much opportunity at a young age, when it comes to opportunities in medicine.”

Ms Fisher conducts her research using computer software to run simulations.

“My research focuses on quantum biology, which explores how quantum level processes may influence living systems,” she explained.

“What draws me to it is the opportunity to investigate fundamental questions about how life works, while recognising how much there is still to discover.

“I’m being mentored by Matteo Cartura and Kristina Zdantsevich, postdoctoral researchers at Stanford University. Having that guidance is an opportunity to develop my scientific thinking, ask more precise questions and learn how to approach challenging problems carefully.”

The eight-week programme will be up and running by November 1, giving young people in Bermuda an introduction to scientific research, quantum biology and computer simulations.

“Through guided projects, they’ll learn to ask questions, analyse results and share their findings, building the confidence to see themselves as future scientists,” she added.

Ms Fisher hopes to one day walk the corridors and step into the operating theatre at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital as a cardiothoracic surgeon.

She believes it will be important for more healthcare professionals in this area of expertise to be on the island in the future as cardiovascular health sits high on the list of health risks.

“Sitting beside my grandfather in his hospital room, I realised that everything I hoped for came down to one thing, more time with him,” Ms Fisher said.

“I couldn’t give him that through determination alone, but it gave me a reason to dedicate myself to learning so that one day, I might help give another family the ordinary days they would give anything to have.”

Ms Fisher added: “We ask young Bermudians to leave home to develop their potential and we should make sure they can come home to fulfil it. That means clear career opportunities, support with the cost of returning and the resources to deliver care they can be proud of.

“Caring for the people who once cared for you is a powerful reason to return. Bermuda’s responsibility is to make that choice possible, so our investment in young people becomes a future our whole community can share.”

She also spoke about the youth organisation Better Minds, which she cofounded in Bermuda.

It focuses on health, education, wellbeing, leadership and empowerment.

Ms Fisher said: “Through my work with young people, I have become increasingly interested in how education and access can determine whether a student's curiosity ever becomes something more.”