The Tribune

As The Bahamas continues to grapple with shortages across nursing and allied health services, 25 young Bahamians have taken their first steps towards careers that could help strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Bahamas Baptist University College concluded its inaugural Pre-Nursing, Pharmacy and Allied Health Summer Camp on Friday, July 17, with a White Coat Ceremony at its Jean Street campus.

The ceremony marked the completion of an intensive four-week programme, but the students left with more than certificates and ceremonial coats. Participants were also able to earn college credits in selected areas, giving them a tangible academic head start should they continue into tertiary healthcare studies.

The programme represents an early investment in a workforce The Bahamas urgently needs. The World Health Organisation has identified shortages of nurses and allied health professionals as barriers to timely access to care, while recent recruitment of overseas healthcare workers underscores the continuing difficulty of filling critical positions locally.

BBUC’s response begins before college enrollment—helping high-school students identify their interests early and prepare for the academic and professional demands ahead.

Participants explored careers in nursing, pharmacy, medicine and allied health sciences while receiving instruction in CPR, basic first aid, anatomy and physiology, medication safety, medical ethics and patient confidentiality. They were also introduced to college-level health sciences and the standards of conduct expected of healthcare professionals.

Importantly, the camp presented healthcare not only as a calling, but also as a complex and evolving industry.

Facilitator Paul Taylor guided groups of students through live-action presentations showcasing healthcare business models they developed during the programme. The assignments required real-world research and practical decision-making: students had to identify the services their businesses would provide, determine staffing and personnel needs, calculate operating costs and project revenue and profit. The demonstrations also contributed towards public-speaking credit, requiring students to explain and defend ideas designed to be viable beyond the classroom.

Registered nurse and author Tomia Shearer delivered the keynote address, drawing upon her professional journey and the lessons explored in her book, How to Defeat the Struggles of a Student Nurse and Become a Registered Nurse. Her message offered students insight into the discipline and resilience required to move successfully from nursing school into professional practice.

Under the leadership of President Dr Theresa Adderley-Smith, BBUC currently offers programmes in Licensed Practical Nursing, Pharmacy and Health Information Technology. Medical Laboratory Technology and Radiologic Technology are expected to come on stream in January 2027, expanding training in areas essential to diagnosis and treatment.

The institution is also developing a Junior Healthcare Cadet Programme intended to provide high-school students with continued exposure to healthcare education, leadership, teamwork and community service.

Together, the summer camp, cadet programme and expanding college curriculum reflect an effort to build a complete healthcare education pipeline—from early exposure and college credit to professional qualification and employment. Exactly what the country needs.