Elizabeth Obeng Nkrumah, past bursary recipient and Nurse Practitioner candidate, shares her experiences with students, donors and other guests at this year’s QEII Foundation Diversity in Health Care Bursary celebration.
QEII Foundation Diversity in Health Care Bursaries awarded to 80 post-secondary students
On September 9, healthcare students, donors and other guests gathered to celebrate the recipients of the 2025 QEII Foundation Diversity in Health Care Bursaries.
This annual bursary program provides financial support to post-secondary students from underserved and underrepresented communities who are studying in a variety of healthcare programs at all levels of education — community college and technical training schools, undergraduate programs, graduate school and PhD programs.
“As Nova Scotia’s population becomes increasingly diverse, equitable health care is a must for communities across the province,” says Susan Mullin, president and CEO at the QEII Foundation.
“It’s important to have caring healthcare teams that understand different cultures and languages to provide the best patient care for Nova Scotians.”
The bursaries, valued at $2,000 each, are an investment in stronger, more diverse healthcare teams. An investment that reaches far beyond the students, impacting the thousands of patients they will care for throughout their careers.
To help support the needs of the healthcare system, students across the province are stepping up. But as the cost of living continues to rise, so does the need for financial aid for students.
“Each year the demand for these bursaries is greater than our available funding,” says Susan. “We welcome continued support from the community — individuals, businesses and organizations — to help us sustain this program in the long-term, for the students and our healthcare system.”
Dedicated to supporting a healthcare system that is reflective of all Nova Scotian communities, the QEII Foundation has provided $649,000 — a total of 429 bursaries — since 2018.
This year, bursaries were awarded to 80 students, chosen from an unprecedented 232 eligible applications. With applications reviewed by a selection committee of volunteers, including representatives from the Community Health Boards in Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone, a past bursary recipient, and other volunteers, the process has strong community ties.
Rooted in that community connection is a unique aspect of the QEII Foundation’s bursary program — the celebration event where the students receive their awards. Held each year to recognize the students’ achievements and commitment to a future in health care in our province, this event brings the students together with their peers to share their experiences and passion for health care. They also enjoy meeting donors, with many students acknowledging that it’s the donor support that encourages and inspires them, knowing there are people who believe in them.
Sophie Carmichael, a 2025 bursary recipient and diagnostic medical ultrasound student at Dalhousie University, felt the celebration was meaningful.
“At the celebration, I was able to connect with other students like me, pursuing a career to provide quality patient care and improve the lives of Nova Scotians,” says Sophie.
Receiving the bursary means Sophie can now focus more on her studies, with less financial stress. She also shared her commitment to a future in health care.
“Health care has never been just a profession to me,” says Sophie. “It’s an opportunity to provide comfort and support and make a difference in the healthcare system in Nova Scotia.”
With about a year and a half left in her program, Sophie expressed her excitement about her future career, and she already has an appreciation and understanding of the patient point of view.
“I understand that as a healthcare professional, seeing patients may feel like just another day at work. However, for the patient, that encounter could be one of the most stressful, emotional or even life-altering days they will ever experience,” says Sophie. “I want to be a provider who recognizes that reality and approaches each patient with compassion, patience and a commitment to ensuring they feel heard and cared for.”
Sophie Carmichael, a 2025 bursary recipient and diagnostic medical ultrasound student at Dalhousie University, received her award at the annual celebration for the bursary program.
Elizabeth Obeng Nkrumah shares this passion for health care. A past bursary recipient, Elizabeth returned this year to speak at the celebration event.
Elizabeth’s journey as a nurse began more than 20 years ago in Ghana, a country on the coast of West Africa. After moving to Nova Scotia several years ago, Elizabeth completed a course for internationally educated nurses, ensuring her skills met provincial standards. Since then, Elizabeth has worked as a wellness navigator with the Nova Scotia Brotherhood and Nova Scotia Sisterhood, providing a culturally safe space for Black men and women, helping them take charge of their health and wellness.
Recently completing her Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Practitioner, and now in a clinical leadership position with Nova Scotia Health, Elizabeth spoke to this year’s recipients about her love of learning and being a firm believer in doing what you love and giving back to the community.
“Through my work, I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals of African ancestry—first as a wellness navigator with the Nova Scotia Brotherhood, then with the Nova Scotia Sisterhood, where I connected patients to resources and grants available through the QEII,” says Elizabeth.
“Currently, as an assistant manager within Primary Health Care, I continue to seek opportunities to share my experiences and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to dream boldly and pursue their goals.”
As a past recipient, Elizabeth remains grateful for the financial support as receiving the bursary allowed her to focus more fully on her studies instead of worrying constantly about how to make ends meet.
But the true impact runs much deeper.
"This grant was more than financial support for me — it was a message. A message that my dream, my education and my contribution mattered. It reminded me that I was not walking this path alone."
To learn more about the QEII Foundation Diversity in Health Care Bursary program, and see a full list of this year’s recipients, visit QE2Foundation.ca/Diversity.
