2024 Region V Conference

Join us on Saturday Oct 19th, 2024 in Columbus, OH at Hamilton Hall (1645 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210) for our Regional Conference as we discuss the role of doctors as advocates and storytellers in medicine and how we are able to create change within our communities. We hope to see you there!
Registration is now live!
Early bird: $25 (prior to Oct 7th) | Regular pricing $30 (prior to Oct 14th)

What stories are we choosing to tell? Whose stories are we not telling? And why are we telling them?

As doctors, we are the advocates and storytellers for our patients and communities; we should strive to give voices to those that are unheard and make space for difficult discussions about the physical and mental health of the people we serve. As members of a greater APIDA community, here too should our advocacy continue, and even still beyond the APIDA community.

In this way, what does APIDA advocacy mean when we do not center the oppressed in our stories? How far does our solidarity extend?

Whether it is the barriers to health millions of APIDA immigrants face trying to access care in the U.S. or the systematic bombing of hospitals in Gaza, we must be thoughtful in who we are choosing to talk about. There is no APIDA liberation without liberation of the oppressed, of those of the global majority. We must share these stories and many others as continue to understand who we are as an APIDA community and who we are as storytellers.

In need of funds? Apply for the APAMSA Diversity Travel Grant!

Diversity Travel Grant

8:30 AM – Registration

9:00 AM – Opening Statements and Keynote Address by Dr. Anita Somani, MD

10:30 AM – First Break-Out Session

1: Ridha Anjum, MS-II

2: ***

3: ***

11:30 AM – Second Break-Out Session

1: ***

2: ***

3: ***

12:30 PM – Lunch and Poster Presentations

2:00 PM – Third Break-Out Session

1: Physician Panel

2: Medical Student Panel

3: ***

3:00 PM – Closing

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Anita Somani, MDOB/GYN at Ohio HealthState Representative for Ohio

Dr. Anita Somani is currently serving her first term as State Representative for Ohio’s 11th House District, which includes the cities of Dublin and Hilliard. She is running for re-election in District 8 which encompasses Worthington and parts of Dublin and Columbus.

For the last 32 years, Dr. Somani has worked in Columbus as a highly respected healthcare professional, currently as an OBGYN at OhioHealth. She earned her M.D. from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her residency in OB/GYN at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Columbus. She has her certification in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery( MIGS). Dr. Somani is a past board member of the Columbus Medical Association and Planned Parenthood. She is currently a Board Member of LEAD Ohio.

Dr. Somani ran for office because she believes the state of Ohio has gone down the wrong path regarding prominent issues such as health care, increasing abortion restrictions and the loosening of gun laws, all of which disproportionately affect marginalized communities. As a physician and legislator, she has used her medical background to improve the public health of our state and to create evidence-based legislation that helps everyone in our community. She serves on the Health Policy, Health Providers, Families & Aging and Insurance Committees. She is the ranking member on Health Providers. She has sponsored many health related bills including the Reproductive Care Act (HB343), the Protect IVF technology(HB502) and the funding of Crisis Pregnancy Centers(HB565). She strongly believes in the separation of church and state. Public school funding should not go to school vouchers.

Dr. Somani lives in Columbus with her husband where they raised their son, an engineer and their daughter, an OB/GYN. She is a first-generation immigrant from India, and her father was the first Asian to serve in a Governor’s cabinet. On a personal level, she has completed 10 half marathons and still enjoys running. She is an avid reader and one of her biggest stress reducers is baking.

Workshop Speakers

Stay tuned as we reveal more speakers!

Julianna Sim, MS4DEI Officer for AMA MSS

Julianna Sim is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Toledo College of Medicine
and currently serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for the American
Medical Association Medical Student Section (AMA MSS). In this role, she is leading initiatives
that promote inclusivity and address disparities within the medical field. Her work involves
developing and implementing programs aimed at increasing student representation and uplifting
voices of those underrepresented in medicine.
Julianna’s commitment to DEI stems from her multicultural background of Filipino and Chinese
descent. Through her role with the AMA MSS, she collaborates with physicians, residents, and
medical students to create a more equitable environment. She hopes that her efforts as DEI
officer will improve access to opportunities in medicine.

Ridha Anjum, MS2Volunteer Coordinator for the Noor Community Clinic

Ridha Anjum is a second-year medical student at Ohio State University College of Medicine, where she serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Noor Community Clinic. The clinic’s focus on providing culturally competent care to the Muslim population in Columbus aligns with Ridha’s passion for ensuring equitable healthcare.

Her commitment to creating an environment where minority groups can access care tailored to their religious and cultural needs is driven by a personal mission to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery. By using her own background to advocate for and teach cultural competence, Ridha hopes to contribute to a broader shift towards more equitable healthcare, and ensure that future healthcare professionals are better prepared to meet the needs of all patients with respect and empathy.

Panelists

Dr. Amy Yau, MDNephrologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

As a nephrologist, I’m passionate about diagnosing and managing kidney conditions to improve my patients’ quality of life. I am a certified hypertension specialist through the AHSCP and also specialize in treating patients with kidney stone disease, electrolyte disorders, and patients with kidney disease and cancer (onco-nephrology).

I value a team-based approach, and my patients can count on me to be a reliable partner in their health care journeys. I believe the first step in building a meaningful relationship is establishing trust and effective communication. I strive to educate patients and their families about their specific kidney disease, and I collaborate with each patient to develop a comprehensive care plan to address their individual goals.

Directions to the Venue

Campus Map

Now accepting research! Please submit your abstract by Tuesday, Oct 1st, 2024 at 11:59 PM and remember to purchase your ticket as well!

Research Registration

Accepted Posters

Impact of the Dobbs Decision on Abortion Rates, Preventive Measures, and Pregnancy Outcomes Across Racial Groups: A Large Public Health Database Analysis

Daniel B. Chen B.A., Arnav Mahajan MD, Fiona Cherry B.A., David Hackney MD, Helen Wong MD

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Poster

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Poster Link

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Poster Link