The eight are all women - Pelenise Selota Panapa, Neimaoto Asaelu, Melisula Telogo Limasene, Mauia Loini Talaapa, Christine Lifuka, Rosemary Silitone Lusama, Lisa Fakalupe and Valasi Galu.
A statement from the Tuvalu Permanent Mission in New York says Dr Panapa received a gold award while Dr Asaelu received one of the special awards.
Tuvalu’s Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Fauao Maani and the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Aunese Simati attended the first graduation of Tuvalu medical students in Cuba.