SONDH welcomes new nursing and dental hygiene students at Fall 2026 General Assembly

Incoming students from every program in the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (UH Manoa SONDH) gathered at the Fall 2026 General Assembly, the school’s annual orientation for new Nursing and Dental Hygiene students. The event brought together students from the Traditional BS Nursing, Direct Entry in Nursing, BS Dental Hygiene, Online RN to BS, MS in Advanced Population Health Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and PhD in Nursing programs for introductions, reflection and connection before the afternoon’s program-specific sessions.

To make sure every student could take part, the orientation was offered both in person and over Zoom. That mattered most for Online RN to BS and Online Advanced Population Health Nursing students, who complete their coursework remotely, along with others who couldn’t make it that morning. The day opened with introductions to SONDH’s leadership, faculty and staff, a group photo and an icebreaker activity to get new students talking with one another.

The centerpiece of the day was “Grounding in Place: Nursing at UH Manoa,” facilitated by Donna-Marie Palakiko, associate professor and director of cultural innovation and strategy, and Chezarae K. Neilson, student services specialist. The activity asked students to think about nursing not just as a profession but as a practice rooted in place, in aloha aina, and in cultural humility. Woven into it was a presentation from Clementina D. Ceria-Ulep, dean and The Queen’s Health Systems Endowed Professor, who walked students through SONDH’s mission and vision and connected them to what students and faculty have accomplished: strong NCLEX and nurse practitioner certification pass rates, a national ranking from U.S. News & World Report, and a steady stream of scholarly work coming out of the school. The pass rates, she noted, are proof the programs are doing what they’re designed to do, preparing graduates who are ready to practice with confidence. Together, the two parts of the session tied the day’s academic material to something more personal, a reminder of what it means to care for people in Hawaii, and why that connection matters for the work ahead.

Merle Koury, associate specialist and the director of the Office of Student Services, called it one of the most meaningful parts of the assembly. “The presentation beautifully captured the heart of nursing and dental hygiene, our connection to place, and the significance of our work at UH Manoa,” Dr. Koury said. “I am incredibly proud of what Dr. Palakiko shared and the lasting impression she made.”

Guided group fellowship gave students a chance to reflect in smaller groups and start building the relationships they’ll lean on throughout their programs. Lunch with faculty and program-specific breakout sessions followed, with the Pledging Ceremony closing out the day.

For new students, the General Assembly is more than a checklist of introductions. It’s the first chance to see the full breadth of what SONDH offers and to find their place in it, whether that’s at a clinical site, a research lab or a classroom down the hall from students headed into an entirely different program. Welcome back, and welina mai to the newest members of the SONDH ohana.