BF&M has awarded its 2025 Postgraduate John Wight Scholarship to Bermudian medical student, Veronica Swan DeGraff.

The $20,000 award will go towards Ms Swan DeGraff’s doctor of medicine studies at St George’s University in Grenada, where she is leading a cultural competency diabetes research project that aims to create education tools tailored for Grenadian, Trinidadian and Bermudian communities.

She was selected from a competitive pool of applicants for her strong academic record, leadership in health initiatives and commitment to improving public health at home.

Ms Swan DeGraff is the founder of Bermuda Youth Connect, a past Bermuda Hospitals Board medical student intern and played a key role with Bermuda’s first mobile men’s health clinic, the DailyMale, which offers free screenings for underinsured men.

Alexis Stovell, BF&M client experience manager and scholarship committee member, said the committee was impressed by her vision and commitment.

“We proudly support her educational journey and her goal of becoming an emergency medicine physician, and we are confident she will have a lasting impact on healthcare in Bermuda,” Ms Stovell said.

Abigail Clifford, BF&M group president and chief executive, added: “Veronica has already made a remarkable contribution to healthcare in Bermuda … It’s exciting to think how much more she will accomplish as she advances in her career.”

A former candy striper and BHB volunteer, Ms Swan DeGraff has also worked at the Bermuda Molecular Diagnostic Lab, published articles in The Royal Gazette and continues to volunteer in community outreach.

The scholarship honours former BF&M chairman and CEO, John Wight, and reflects the company’s commitment to developing Bermudian talent.