HONOLULU (KHON2) — At the John A. Burns School of Medicine’s annual Scholarship Dinner on Friday, Jan. 17, students had the rare opportunity to meet the donors who make their education possible.
That was thanks to scholarships that help alleviate the financial burden of medical school.
One of the students who benefited from this support is Ed Biala who is a recipient of the prestigious JABSOM scholarship.
Biala expressed a deep grateful for the opportunity.
“Our donors are just one aspect of that community that has helped us — not only get to medical school but also get through medical school, and even beyond,” he said.
Biala emphasized that the support he’s received has been invaluable, explaining, “That’s what makes JABSOM unique. There’s no other place I’d rather be going to school than here.”
Dr. Benjamin Young, a JABSOM graduate and founder of the school’s ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program, shared his belief in the importance of perpetuating healthy lives for the people of Hawai‘i.
“To quote King David Kalākaua, ‘Ho‘oulu Lāhui, perpetuate the nation’. And that’s so true, to perpetuate the healthy lives of all the peoples of Hawai‘i,” Dr. Young said as he reflected on the importance of medical education.
He views his support of students like Biala as not only a personal mission but also a way to contribute to the broader health of the community.
Biala echoed Dr. Young’s sentiments when he noted how their relationship had grown over time.
“Each time I got to sit down and talk with him, there was a new milestone I was working on,” he said. “It’s meaningful to catch up and remember all of those different milestones. I hope one day I can pay it forward, too.”
Scholarships are crucial for reducing the financial strain of medical school, and JABSOM has seen significant progress in its scholarship program.
In 2024 alone, the school awarded $6.5 million in scholarships. This marked a 58 percent increase in just five years.
Dr. Young is proud to be a part of this mission.
“It’s amazing to see the students’ journeys, to hear how they’re navigating through medical school and achieving their dreams,” he added.
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Kaiser Permanente scholarship recipients Liza Mae Mamaud (JABSOM 2026), Jan Aurelio (JABSOM 2028) and Selena Vanapruks (JABSOM 2026) on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. (Photo/JABSOM) -
Janette Bow-Keola (JABSOM 2027) greets Dr. Benjamin Young, founder of ʻImi Hoʻōlaʻs Post-Baccaulerate Program, which Bow-Keola on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. (Photo/JABSOM) -
Alumni of the ʻImi Hoʻōla Post-Baccalaureate Program with program founder Dr. Benjamin Young, DeDe Young and Queen’s University on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. (Photo/JABSOM) -
JABSOM students with UH Provost Michael Bruno on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. (Photo/JABSOM) -
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health CEO Dr. Leslie Chun with JABSOM students on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. (Photo/JABSOM) -
Tiffany Kurozawa (JABSOM 2025) embraces Dr. Benjamin Young, founder of the ‘Imi Ho’ôla Post-Baccalaureate Program. Kurozawa on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. (Photo/JABSOM)
At the heart of the evening was a shared sense of gratitude and commitment to making a positive impact on Hawai‘i’s health system.
To learn more about medical career training offered by JABSOM, click here.
Through his contributions, Dr. Young, like many others, continues to pave the way for the next generation of doctors.