Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Skip to content
JABSOM class of 2026 group
Reading time: 2 minutes
JABSOM class of 2026 group
JABSOM‘s Class of 2026 celebrate their graduation.

The University of Âé¶¹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ (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.

Chong family with Dean Shomaker on stage
Juyoung Chong with her family and JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker.

As Âé¶¹´«Ã½ 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 Âé¶¹´«Ã½ are Joseph Li and Juyoung Chong, both eager to give back to the communities they now call home.

Meet more amazing UH graduates

“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 Âé¶¹´«Ã½, and support the people of Âé¶¹´«Ã½, is just an incredible honor and I feel so grateful to have this opportunity.”

JABSOM students
JABSOM graduates recite the Oath of Hippocrates.

Chong, who was born and raised in Busan, South Korea, said Âé¶¹´«Ã½ 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 Âé¶¹´«Ã½,” 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 Âé¶¹´«Ã½, helping strengthen the state’s future healthcare workforce.

Back To Top