The Professor Jong M. Rho Memorial Fund

Alongside his family, friends, colleagues – and thousands around the world – the International Neurological Ketogenic Society (INKS) mourns the loss of founder Dr. Jong Min Rho on July 22, 2026. Dr. Rho planted the seeds for our organization and worked tirelessly for the INKS mission: to promote the practice and science of ketogenic diets and related metabolism-based therapies for neurological disorders.

Dr. Rho passed away in his sleep, surrounded by the love of his family, after a courageous three-month battle with stage IV gastric cancer. Perhaps in a fitting medical parallel to his pioneering work on ketogenic and metabolic therapies, he spent his final days at The Connecticut Hospice near his home in Branford, CT. The Connecticut Hospice was a pioneering facility that opened in 1974 and introduced the hospice movement to the United States.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Rho devoted his life to caring for children with epilepsy and neurological disorders and to advancing the field of pediatric neurology and metabolic therapies. He graduated from Yale University with a degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, and earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He maintained a dedication to basic and translational research throughout his career in clinical medicine.

Dr. Rho completed a pediatrics residency at the University of Southern California and a child neurology residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. This was followed by a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Over a 30-year career, he founded and led clinical and research programs across North America, including at University of Washington (Seattle), University of California Irvine, Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix, Arizona), University of Calgary (Canada), University of California San Diego, and Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, Connecticut).

In 2023 Dr. Rho moved back to Yale, his alma mater, where he held the Elizabeth Mears and House Jameson Professorship of Pediatrics (Neurology) at Yale School of Medicine. He was Professor and Chief of the Section of Pediatric Neurology in the Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology at the time of his passing.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rho’s pioneering research, advocacy, and mentorship advanced the field of metabolic therapies, particularly the ketogenic diet, and their ability to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders. In 2008, Dr. Rho spearheaded the First International Symposium on Dietary Treatments for Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders, held in Phoenix, Arizona. The meeting was organized in collaboration with the Charlie Foundation and was a phenomenal success. Topics included history, basic and translational research, and clinical applications. Speakers included Charlie himself and many of the pioneers in the field. This was the seed that eventually grew into INKS.

Dr. Rho continued to expand the vision for metabolic therapies and played a central role in subsequent international meetings, including partnerships with the UK-based Matthew’s Friends. He championed collaboration within the global community to advance research, clinical applications, and the development of a pipeline of young investigators. Beyond his own scientific contributions, he was a dedicated supporter of fellow scientists and clinicians, helping to broaden the application of metabolic therapies to other neurological diseases. In support of this mission, he served as a principal or co-investigator on National Institutes of Health conference grants, much of which were specifically aimed at enabling early-career scientists and clinicians to participate in these international meetings.

As a major milestone, Dr. Rho co-founded and served as the first Executive Chair of INKS – the International Neurological Ketogenic Society. Throughout his career, he was honored many times over for teaching, clinical care, mentorship, and research. He was also recognized as a generous mentor, compassionate physician, brilliant scientist, and thoughtful teacher, Dr. Rho was tireless and worked at all levels – he touched countless lives through his intellect, kindness, and unwavering dedication to his patients, trainees, and colleagues.

Perhaps less known, outside of medicine, Dr. Rho was a professional mime, accomplished clarinetist, and he found joy in acting, the latest tech, and music. He was also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and those who knew him were often treated to stories of his family, in whom his love and pride were unmistakable. His wisdom, warmth, compassion, love and generosity of spirit will be deeply missed by his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Dr. Rho is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Jennifer Hope Rho; their children, Janine Rho, Jeremy Rho, and Jaron Goddard and her husband, Chris, and their children, Samuel and William; his mother, Soon Hi Rho; and his siblings, Yvonne Ramos, Susan Rho and Jong Soo Rho. He is predeceased by his father, Noong Suh Rho.

There will be two memorial services celebrating Dr. Rho’s life. The east coast service will be held on August 17th, 2026, 11:00am, at Battell Chapel at Yale University in New Haven, CT. The west coast service will be held on August 24, 2026, at Pioneer Ocean View Church of Christ in San Diego, CA. Additional details will be shared on www.neuroketo.org

Everyone is encouraged to wear blue—his favorite color.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider honoring Dr. Rho’s dedication to the next generation of researchers and clinicians by donating to the Professor Jong M. Rho Memorial Fund established in his honor at INKS: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/jong-rho-memorial-fund

For more on Dr. Rho’s work and legacy, please visit the official INKS website: https://neuroketo.org

“Neither fire, nor wind, birth, nor death, can erase our good deeds.” – Buddha