The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 (JABSOM) celebrated 79 new locally trained physicians during its 2026 Convocation Ceremony at Kennedy Theatre on May 17. The event marked a major milestone for graduates preparing to serve communities across the state and beyond.
As Hawaiʻi continues to face a physician shortage, more than half of the graduates are entering critical primary care specialties including internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.
The ceremony included the recitation of the Oath of Hippocrates, formally welcoming the graduates into the medical profession.
‘I feel so grateful’
Among the graduates staying in Hawaiʻi are Joseph Li and Juyoung Chong, both eager to give back to the communities they now call home.
“To just be able to serve the community that I grew up in, so many people pouring in to me and my family, helping to support me to get where I am today,” Li said. “Couldn’t have done it without any of them, so to be able to stay in Hawaiʻi, and support the people of Hawaiʻi, is just an incredible honor and I feel so grateful to have this opportunity.”
Chong, who was born and raised in Busan, South Korea, said Hawaiʻi became his second home after moving to the islands for high school.
“This is just the perfect environment for me because I was able to start my family, have a child, and with the ʻohana and aloha and all the love that I may not be able to have outside of Hawaiʻi,” Chong said. “I’m so happy to share my experience with the soon-to-be mothers who may be very nervous for upcoming life-changing events.”
Thirty-three percent of JABSOM’s Class of 2026 will continue their residency training in Hawaiʻi, helping strengthen the state’s future healthcare workforce.