Twenty-two-year-old Somesh Sharma of St Ann has been named Jamaica’s 2027 Rhodes Scholar, earning an opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Sharma, who was born and raised in Exchange, St Ann, was announced as the scholarship recipient during a ceremony at King’s House on November 12. A past student of St Ann’s Bay High School and York Castle High School, he was selected from seven candidates in his first application for the prestigious award.
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He recently graduated from The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, with a bachelor’s degree in medical physics, earning first-class honours. At Oxford, he plans to pursue a Master of Science in Medical Physics with Radiobiology and Applied Digital Health.
Sharma said his ambition is to use the knowledge and skills gained at Oxford to help address gaps in Jamaica’s healthcare system, particularly the limited availability and outdated condition of some medical equipment. His interest in the field was strengthened by witnessing his grandmother’s difficulties accessing treatment after suffering a heart attack at St Ann’s Bay Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Sharma has developed free digital applications intended to benefit Jamaicans. These include Yaad Bites, which connects street-food vendors with customers, and Outbreak Tracker, a disease-monitoring platform that he said has attracted approximately 5,000 users across 40 countries.
Following Hurricane Melissa last October, he also created a community-based website that allows people to report roadblocks, fallen utility poles and other damage.
Sharma, who volunteers and tutors in his community, said he hopes to return to Jamaica after his studies and contribute to healthcare and national development. He also expressed hope that his achievement would encourage other young Jamaicans to pursue similar opportunities.
