NHH announces Health Professions Scholarship winners
NHH announces Health Professions Scholarship winners
By Cecilia Namith
A big highlight of each June's Northumberland Hills Hospital board meeting is the announcement of that year's Health Professions Scholarships – and the June 11 meeting this year brought the news of the 2026 scholarship winners, local students Aya Al-Ali and Vikaash Angusami Subasri.
Board chair Cyndi Gilmer cited “their academic achievements and their dedication to volunteerism that furthers health-care delivery and patient experience in our region. We wish them both continued success with their studies in their respective fields.
“I understand NHH will be welcoming Aya later this summer as a student learner. NHH patients will also be benefiting from Vikash's care and compassion, as he intends to continue his volunteering with the NHH Auxiliary this summer.”
The annual scholarship - $1,500 each this year – has been presented by the board since 2003, supporting two West Northumberland students who have chosen to pursue a career in the health-care sector. There is also the hope that, when they begin those careers, they may return to their home community to practice.
In addition to being enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an appropriate full-time study program, applicants are evaluated on a number of criteria, including academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, a testimonial in their own words explaining their career goals, and written references.
Both recipients participated in the ceremony virtually, Aya thanking the board for their support.
“I grew up in Cobourg, and this scholarship allows me to do observerships right here at NHH,” she said.
'This time is so valuable as a future physician, as I can take my knowledge outside the classroom and apply it to real patients.
“Thank you for your investment in Northumberland's future health-care professionals.”
Vikaash looks forward to continuing his volunteerism at NHH.
“I believe, for students my age, volunteering is an invaluable experience since it allows you to work hands-on while simultaneously making connections with like-minded individuals,” he wrote.
“Volunteering at NHH has given me lived experience, which I can connect with the concepts I am learning to improve my pursuit of knowledge. I aim to continue helping others throughout my professional career through learning to the best of my abilities.”
Both recipients are Cobourg residents.
Aya is completing her second year of study at the University of Limerick in Ireland, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.
After completing Trinity College School in Port Hope, she attended the University of Ottawa (graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences magna cum laude) and completed her Honours thesis in language barriers in emergency care.
At the University of Ottawa, she contributed as a research assistant to multiple projects, including data extraction for a scoping review on artificial intelligence and frailty. She is co-author of a 2026 peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Also at the University of Ottawa, Aya served as a Volunteer Crisis Team Member. This student-volunteer team provides 24/7 emergency response for physical and mental-health emergencies. Through this work she became a certified Canadian Red Cross First Responder and Emergency Medical Responder, serving on the team and within the City of Ottawa for two years.
Aya has always pursued hands-on clinical and emergency-medicine experiences. As a competitor in this year's SimWars emergency-medicine competition, she trained extensively for five months before being selected to compete on a multi-disciplinary team of medical students across all years of training. As a First Year Representative for the Emergency Medicine Society of Ireland, she serves as a liaison between students and the society, while helping organize simulation-based training sessions.
After her studies are complete, Aya hopes to return to her home community and NHH.
Vikaash will enter his second year of studies at the University of Ottawa this fall, where he is pursuing his Bachelor of Nursing Sciences degree with a goal of working as a Nurse Anesthetist or Nurse Practitioner.
While he has volunteered locally with the Cobourg Public Library and Community Living and Respite Northumbeland, he has also been an active volunteer at NHH in the Hospital Elder Life Program and hydration program. As a HELP volunteer, he works to support individual and group therapeutic recreation activities, as well as working to promote mental health and improve socialization with patients.
Vikaash is a past recipient of the NHH Auxiliary's Dixie Mikel Award, given to an exceptional student volunteer who has contributed more than 80 of volunteer time. He was also awarded the Della Taylor Scholarship and Student Legacy Award by Cobourg Collegiate Institute.
Gilmer thanked the Health Professions Scholarship Committee for their careful review of many excellent applications.
“We are grateful to all those who submitted applications, and those who supported with references and letters of endorsement,” she said.
