Hospital Celebrates National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme Participants

The management and staff of the hospital are proud to congratulate the interns who have spent the past six weeks at both Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and Cockburn Town Medical Centre gaining valuable workplace experience through the Ministry of Education’s National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme (NIAP).

Since the inception of the National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme, the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital has proudly partnered with the Ministry of Education to provide meaningful workplace learning experiences for young people across a variety of disciplines. Over the years, the programme has become an important component of the hospital's workforce development strategy, providing students with valuable exposure to the dynamic healthcare environment while helping them make informed career choices.

This year's cohort included several interns pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory sciences, allied health professions, and other healthcare-related fields. Throughout the programme, the interns were mentored by physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, managers, and support staff who generously shared their knowledge, experience, and professional guidance. The hospital extends its sincere appreciation to every department, supervisor, mentor, and staff member who invested their time and expertise in supporting the interns' learning and development. Through partnerships such as the National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme, the hospital continues to invest in building a resilient, sustainable, and locally empowered healthcare workforce for the future.

Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, praised the interns for their dedication throughout the programme while recognizing the importance of national collaboration in developing the future healthcare workforce.

"It has been a privilege to welcome these talented young people to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and Cockburn Town Medical Centre over the past six weeks. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, professionalism, and commitment to learning have been inspiring, and they have made valuable contributions across both our clinical and non-clinical services.

On behalf of the hospital, I extend our sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Education for its continued investment in capacity building through the National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme. This initiative reflects a shared national commitment to developing the knowledge, skills, and experience of our young people while creating meaningful pathways into the workforce.

I would also like to thank the many hospital teams, managers, supervisors, clinicians, and support staff who generously shared their time, expertise, and mentorship with our interns. Their willingness to teach, guide, and encourage these young professionals exemplifies the culture of learning and excellence that exists throughout our organization.

As the healthcare needs of the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to evolve, the development of a highly skilled and specialized workforce has never been more important. The hospital remains fully committed to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Turks & Caicos Islands Community College, educational institutions, government agencies, and our wider partners to strengthen workforce development, support future specialists across clinical, allied health, technical, and administrative disciplines, and create opportunities for individuals to pursue rewarding careers in healthcare.

Today's interns are tomorrow's healthcare leaders. We congratulate each participant on successfully completing the programme and look forward to seeing many of them return to serve the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the years ahead."

Chief of Medical Services, Dr. Dawn Perry-Ewing, said the experience reflected the importance of investing in future healthcare and business professionals.

“Every opportunity to learn in a real-world environment helps shape tomorrow’s leaders. Our interns embraced each experience with professionalism and a genuine desire to grow. Whether supporting clinical services or administrative functions, they demonstrated a strong work ethic and a willingness to contribute. We congratulate them on completing the programme and wish them continued success in all their future endeavours.”

Training and Development Manager, Ms. Vernessa Forbes, highlighted the importance of the programme in preparing the next generation of professionals. "The National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme provides an invaluable opportunity for young people to apply their academic learning in a real-world environment while developing the professional skills, confidence, and work ethic needed for future success. It has been especially rewarding to see several interns pursuing careers in healthcare, and we remain committed to working alongside the Ministry of Education and our national partners to nurture and develop the skilled healthcare professionals who will help meet the future needs of the Turks and Caicos Islands."

As the programme ends, the hospital extends its appreciation to the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands for creating opportunities that connect young people with meaningful workplace experiences. Initiatives such as the National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme play an important role in building a skilled, confident, and capable workforce for the future.

The hospital congratulates all participating interns on successfully completing their placements and thanks them for the dedication, professionalism, and fresh perspectives they brought to the organization. We wish each of them every success in the years to come.