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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Nassau, Bahamas - The Doctors Hospital Dr Meyer Rassin Foundation has once again provided the next generation of healthcare workers with much needed scholarships.
Thirty-three Bahamian students, studying to become everything from physicians, surgeons, nurses, speech pathologists, medical and radiologic technologists, received financial assistance to assist with their tertiary education.
The Doctors Hospital Dr Meyer Rassin Foundation was created in 1999 in honor of the late Dr Meyer Rassin, a leader in healthcare in the Bahamas from 1042. The vast majority of the money raised by the Foundation provides scholarships for Bahamians pursuing higher education in all areas of healthcare.
Congratulating the recipients on being selected for the highly sought after award, Doctors Hospital CEO Charles Sealy explained why the country’s only private hospital supports the scholarship program, and encouraged them to do well in their studies.
“In the Bahamas, we have a challenge where there is a great need in a number of the areas we offer, especially in the allied health professions,” he told them.
With a growing population, it becomes even more important to encourage young Bahamians to pursue degrees and careers in medicine and allied health.
“We try to encourage students to go and get trained and come back with knowledge. If you come back with a degree, that’s not going to guarantee you a job. If you come back with knowledge, you’ll be here for a lifetime,” he said.
For many of the students, the news that they had received the scholarship provided them and their parents with a sense of relief.
“It means so, so, so much to me. My first year, I had absolutely no help and I had to take out a loan, and that was pretty rough. Receiving this takes a huge load off my shoulder and my parents’ shoulders and now I can just go through the school year, not have to worry too much about finances and really just focus on my studies,” said Paige Armbrister, a second year Med Student at UWI, Cave Hill.
Kayla Brown, who is also studying medicine, but at St George’s University, plans to focus on Radiology. She too expressed tremendous gratitude.
“It meant everything. I was overjoyed. Before I got the call that I’d been selected for the scholarship, I had no idea where to begin to find the funds to pay for tuition, so this is really, really exciting news and has given me a really good outlook towards my future.”
A number of proud parents attended the scholarship award ceremony. Cynthia Hall, whose son, Ronald Hall received a scholarship as he heads off to study Medicine at UWI in Trinidad was grateful for the assistance that will take some of the burden off of her.
“It’s a great help. We really appreciate it. Without this assistance, it would be really stressful. Now we will make sure the money he’s received goes to good use,” she said.
Although her son is only beginning his journey towards becoming a doctor, he is already thinking ahead to the time he can give back.
“I am so grateful. It’s been hard because it’s only me and my mother. My dream is to be able to be successful so I can come back and help others get scholarships.”The Doctors Hospital Dr Meyer Rassin Foundation receives grants from Doctors Hospital as well as other private donors in order to fund the scholarship program. The Foundation also holds fundraising events to ensure that each year they are able to assist deserving young Bahamians.
For more information about the Foundation, contact Inez Nixon at 302-4770.
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