Eight years ago, Merate-Kristos Place gave her time and effort to the Hospitals Auxiliary Board as a candy striper.

Yesterday, the HAB paid her back by gaving her a one-time $100,000 scholarship to become a doctor.

Ms Place, who will start medical school in London in September, pledged to be the best doctor she could be for Bermuda.

In celebration of the HAB's 50th anniversary, the one-time scholarship is awarded to a deserving Bermudian student with criteria based on marks, community involvement and an essay submission.

Ms Place will attend Guy's, King's and St. Thomas School of Medicine at King's College, University of London.

She has plans to practice medicine with an emphasis on contact with her patients, as opposed to having a business mentality.

"I have a love for patient interaction and a fascination for the human body," said Ms. Place. "I've always had a motivation and a fascination with this field and the life-long learning aspect it requires. When I return to Bermuda I hope to be the best doctor I can be for all my patients and for Bermuda."

Ms Place began volunteering at KEMH as a candy striper where she first discovered her interest in medicine.

She graduated with honours at the top of her class from the Berkeley Institute with a GPA of 3.8. She then obtained her two-year International Baccalaureate diploma from the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West in New Mexico, and then went on to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with pre-medical requirements from Emory University with a 3.86 GPA. Her volunteer work continued at the Egleston Children's Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital while studying in Atlanta.

Ms Place is interested in specialising in anaesthesia. Under the British system of study, she will spend five years taking her MBBS degree and one year additionally for any specialist work she plans to pursue.

After working in Bolivia in rural healthcare and in Australia, Ms Place said she realised the mark of a good doctor is one who has a commitment to serve their patients to the best of their ability, despite the sacrifices.

In Bolivia, Ms Place helped to build a clinic in a rural town with a team of doctors and students.

"Meeting doctors who are so dedicated to spend time away from their family to make this kind of contribution was inspiring. It helped me to realise the kind of selflessness involved in the profession," she said.

"One of the major events was working day-to-day, pushing wheelbarrows full of bricks just to get the job done. That idea of humility is something that has been impressed upon me and is a characteristic I've tried to emulate."

Ms Place received her award to loud applause at a reception at the hospital yesterday which was also attended by her parents Albert and Christine Place.

Joy Williams, president of the Hospital Auxiliary, said Ms Place was an inspiration to other young people.

"Merate is a young woman well on her way to knowing something about everything in her chosen profession, a profession where change is so constant. The day of the elitist doctor has passed ? we are asking you to retain the common touch and to be our special doctor."

Joan Dillas Wright, chief executive officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, also offered words of congratulations.

"Here is a bright young mind set on doing her best. I hope she will open the eyes of other young people that it's not just about law and insurance ? we have to encourage other young people to go into the field of medicine."

Medical school is expensive, and Ms Place plans to return home on her holidays to supplement her income.

"(The scholarship) is a great push. London is an expensive city so I will have to supplement my income, but this will help to get me most of the way," she said.