UCCI AND DOCTORS EXPRESS LAUNCH NEW HEALTHCARE SCHOLARSHIP FOR CAYMANIAN STUDENTS

Doctors Express, one of Cayman’s leading healthcare providers, has partnered with the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) to launch a dedicated healthcare scholarship for Caymanian students. This initiative underscores Doctors Express’ commitment to developing local talent in health, wellness and community care and aligns with UCCI’s strategic focus on workforce readiness.

The Doctors Express Healthcare Scholarship has been established at UCCI to help qualified Caymanian students access programmes that feed directly into Cayman’s healthcare ecosystem, such as Nursing, Allied Health, Science, Social Work, Office Administration, and Community Care pathways. The scholarship is designed to remove financial barriers for students who show academic promise, strong attendance and a clear desire to serve in the health sector.

Dr. Livingston Smith, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Education at UCCI said, “Cayman needs more home-grown healthcare talent, not just doctors and nurses, but the full range of people who make the system work: clinic staff, allied health technicians, community care workers, rehabilitation and wellness personnel. When a committed local provider like Doctors Express steps forward to fund a scholarship, it does two things at once, it opens the door for a Caymanian student, and it strengthens our national capacity. We are very pleased to welcome Doctors Express as a UCCI scholarship partner.”

The scholarship will prioritise Caymanian students who are enrolled in health-related programmes at UCCI and who meet core academic and engagement standards, specifically those who have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0, maintained attendance of 90% or higher, and can demonstrate clear financial need. In addition to these baseline criteria, applicants must also show a stated commitment to working in healthcare or community wellness in the Cayman Islands. This approach ensures that the funding supports students who are both capable of succeeding academically and genuinely motivated to contribute to Cayman’s healthcare workforce.

This mirrors UCCI’s wider approach to private-sector scholarships, ensuring that funds go to students who are both deserving and likely to complete their studies and contribute back to the local economy. Recipients may be invited to engage with Doctors Express for career talks, site visits or internship-style opportunities, giving the business early visibility of emerging talent.

Mr. Samuel Banks, founder and Director of Doctors Express said, “As a generational Caymanian, I feel strongly that we should be encouraging our Caymanian students to pursue a career in healthcare. Healthcare is exactly the kind of profession that remains strong even in tough economic times and we want young Caymanians to step into it with confidence, knowing it can provide them a modern, secure, well paid and meaningful career. Partnering with UCCI is the natural way to do that because UCCI already has the students, the lecturers and the programmes; we are simply providing the financial support.”

This scholarship forms part of Doctors Express’ ongoing strategy to invest in the Caymanian workforce. As part of its operational plan, Doctors Express recognises the importance of supporting Caymanians not only through employment but also through education and training opportunities that feed directly into the healthcare pipeline.

In addition, Doctors Express is reinforcing its commitment to education and training by serving as a clinical practicum site for student nurses from the Ruth Eleanor McLaughlin School of Nursing at UCCI. Student nurses began their clinical practicum with Doctors Express on 13 October 2025, gaining hands-on experience in a real-world clinical environment.

The new scholarship aligns with UCCI’s 50th Anniversary focus on partnerships that directly expand access to education while meeting real labour-market demand. Cayman’s population growth, ageing demographics and the increasing complexity of healthcare delivery mean that the islands require more trained personnel across the board, from clinic reception and triage to nursing assistants, lab and diagnostic support, wellness, and administrative roles.

Applications for the 2026 academic intake are closed. Interested students are encouraged to check UCCI’s website at https://ucci.edu.ky/scholarships  for future scholarship opportunities and upcoming intake dates.