Founded in 1995, the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association is the largest, official 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization of healthcare students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities through leadership, mentorship, advocacy, education, and service. Our organization focuses on AANHPI health disparities, cultural barriers to healthcare, advocacy, diversity and intersectionality, community outreach, Hepatitis B/C and cancer initiatives, bone marrow registry, and mental health wellness.

Over the past few years, the AANHPI communities have encountered extreme adversity in the wake of two pandemics: COVID-19 and anti-Asian racism. Instead of shying away from the challenges, APAMSA and our AANHPI communities have risen to the opportunity and flocked together to overcome the challenges that have been imposed on us. We have grown our strength in numbers–now encompassing over 165 local chapters and 10,000 members–by officializing membership and expanding our reach to both pre-medical chapters and alumni. Resultantly, we saw an expansion in the incredible efforts of our local chapters and members advocating and caring for AANHPI communities with a countless number of health fairs, volunteer services, and educational conferences.

As APAMSA continues to grow, our organization remains motivated to improve the health and well-being of AANHPI communities locally, regionally, and nationally.

Join us in fulfilling our 2023-2024 National Goals:

• • Activate additional pre-medical/pre-health chapters and medical chapters, recruit more alumni members, and strengthen existing relationships
  • Advocate for the health and well-being of our AANHPI communities, especially for those among our most vulnerable and marginalized populations 

• Connect members locally, regionally, and nationally through numerous conferences (Annual National Conference, 8-9 Regional Conferences, Hepatitis Conferences), in-person and virtual socials, and events

• Educate the general public and healthcare professionals about specific health challenges and disparities that exist in AANHPI communities

• • Encourage more underrepresented minorities in AANHPI communities to pursue healthcare professions, especially as physicians, through active engagement, recruitment, and support

• Prioritize diversity, inclusion, equity, and intersectionality efforts at local chapters and on national board 

• Promote AANHPI-centered medical and public health research with disaggregated data of AANHPI subgroups 

• Recruit members to pursue leadership opportunities with APAMSA locally and nationally 

• Support local chapters, members, peer organizations, and sponsors in community engagement, advocacy, and educational efforts

Join APAMSA HERE and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay connected with us. Sign up to join your local chapter leadership, activate a new pre-med/health or medical chapter, connect with APAMSA mentors, advocate for your local AANHPI communities, and more. Every individual has the power to pursue leadership opportunities and make a tangible difference in your local AANHPI communities. At APAMSA, with our members’ and allies’ unwavering support, we continue to march toward a better tomorrow.

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard