New University of Hawaii medical students honored

The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine honored a new class of 77 medical students Friday during the annual White Coat Ceremony at the McKinley High School Auditorium.

The students were presented with white coats embroidered with the JABSOM logo and their names across the front. They are the M.D. class of 2025.

“I feel very privileged, honored and blessed to be in this position where I can help patients at their most vulnerable times,” said Kelly Watanabe, first-year medical student from Kaimuki.

“The new MD class is composed of mainly local students: 85% are from Hawaii, including five from Hawaii island and two from Maui,” the school said in a news release.

“Eight students are of Native Hawaiian ancestry (and) … approximately 31% graduated from the UH system,” the school said.

Students also came from Guam, Canada and the mainland, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon.