(Press Release) — In a milestone that resonates far beyond the walls of the graduation hall, Dr. Aliah Kei Hocog Manglona will cross the stage at the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, on May 2, 2026. Dr. Manglona will become the first woman from the beautiful island of Rota to earn this prestigious title.
For Dr. Aliah Manglona, this degree is a shared victory. A native of Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, she attributes her success to the “unwavering support and late-night encouragement” from her family. During the ceremony, Dr. Manglona will take the Physician’s Oath, a solemn pledge to dedicate her life to the service of humanity, a mission inspired by the hardworking parents who raised her.
Following a brief period of celebration with family, Dr. Manglona will transition to Central Michigan for her residency. This next phase represents years of “relentless and caffeine-fueled study sessions” and clinical rotations now coming to fruition.
“I am humbled by the responsibility this degree carries,” Dr. Manglona said. “It is my honor to return that trust to my patients every day. Most especially, for my island’s people, who have little hope for its future. It’s the very people who grow increasingly sick due to a lack of basic healthcare, she said. I hope to return home one day and serve the people of the CNMI.”
Dr. Manglona is the daughter of Mr. Kenneth J. & Mrs. Lynette H. Manglona, also from the beautiful island of Rota, whose lifelong belief in her potential made this achievement possible.
