Ask Internal Medicine Physician Dr. Marcus Iwane
The Leadership Committee proudly presents Dr. Marcus Iwane, an internal medicine physician dedicated to cultural health and Hawaiian communities. With a deep understanding of the intersection between medicine and heritage, Dr. Iwane is dedicated to ensuring that future generations continue to thrive while honoring their roots. His other passions include fishing, farming, and traveling!
Join us October 3rd for an exclusive Ask Me Anything session where Dr. Iwane will share his insights on health, culture, and the importance of community care. Don’t miss it!
Zoom Meeting ID: 952 5920 8549
Region VIII Conference
APAMSA Region VIII and the UCI APAMSA chapter are ecstatic to invite you to the annual Region VIII Conference hosted at the University of California, Irvine in Irvine. We are excited to host this event, celebrate all backgrounds, and uplift AANHPI communities through our conference “Turning the Tide.” Our theme highlights the shift in narrative towards unity, commemorating diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and acceptance of all. Through this conference, we hope to uphold this goal by hosting influential speakers in the AANHPI sphere, facilitating pre-medical and resident/attending panels, and featuring the research contributions of APAMSA members.
Statement on the Apalachee High School Shooting
On Wednesday, September 4th, 2024, those at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, witnessed a shooting that took the lives of four individuals and injured nine more. This is the 385th mass shooting and the 45th school shooting of the year in the country.
APAMSA remains staunchly opposed to gun violence (Resolution 40.006) and demands stricter gun control, and yet again emphatically states that there is a need for gun reform and control to prevent such acts from occurring. Underaged individuals, especially those with a history of threatening a mass shooting, should not be able to obtain assault weapons. We urge legislators to keep this pressing issue in mind as the 2024 election draws closer, to prioritize their commitment to such reform, and to listen to the voices of their grieving constituents.
We mourn with the nation for the lives lost and interrupted by this tragedy. We offer our support to those affected and we encourage you to reach out if there are specific ways in which we can assist you.
For local support, please contact the Region 4 directors at region4@apamsa.org.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
Donna Tran, MD, MPH
Network Director
Donna Tran, MD, MPH, is a psychiatry resident at Stanford Health Care. She earned her MD from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and her MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. During medical school, she served as the National President of APAMSA from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, she was appointed as the District 10 Representative on the Senior Citizens Commission of the City of San Jose and interned under U.S. Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19). Previously, she worked as a health policy intern in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and presented to President Biden’s Advisory Commission for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander AANHPI (PAC-AANHPI/WHIAANHPI), advocating for public mental health. Her research focuses on health inequities, leadership, primary care, and advocacy. In her free time, Donna enjoys bouldering,
spending time with her French bulldog, and listening to TED Talks and podcasts.
Response to Texas Executive Order No. GA-46
On August 8th, 2024, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) issued Executive Order No. GA-46, mandating Texas public hospitals to collect data on healthcare utilization by undocumented immigrants, including number of inpatient discharges, emergency services, and healthcare costs. Abbott justified the action by claiming that Texas has had to absorb increased healthcare costs associated with federal “open border” policies and seeks federal reimbursement for the expenditures. The action follows Abbott’s yearslong clashes with the Biden administration on immigration, with at least a dozen lawsuits fought between Texas and the federal government over the issue.
The mandate does not impact legal access to care, which is protected under federal law regardless of one’s immigration status. However, a similar law enacted by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) earlier this year nevertheless impacted healthcare access negatively. Increased fear and apprehension among undocumented immigrants have led to a sharp decline in utilization of health care services in Florida, discouraging a population that already experiences disproportionate health disparities from receiving lifesaving preventive healthcare, emergency obstetric care, and more. Texas advocacy and community health groups fear a similar outcome.
National APAMSA unequivocally supports immigrant health care access for undocumented immigrants, migrant health and safety, and protection of undocumented patients in our policy compendium (20.001, 20.002, 20.003). We strongly oppose Texas Executive Order No. GA-46 and the threat it poses to eliminating health disparities, achieving health equity, and increasing health care access—core values of our organization’s advocacy.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
2024 APAMSA Regional Conference Diversity Travel Grant
National APAMSA is offering a limited number of travel grants to increase participation in the APAMSA National Conference by medical students who are underrepresented and often invisible in the AANHPI narrative in the United States. We currently expect to award 12 individual grants of approximately $100.
More information in the application here and hyperlinked below: tinyurl.com/2024-rc-grant
Apply now!
2024 APAMSA Regional Conferences
We are excited to announce the dates and host schools for the 2024 APAMSA Regional Conferences! We have 7 conferences from August to October with exciting opportunities to learn from speakers, network, and meet other APAMSA members! Keep an eye out for more information for each specific conference. Please reach out to membership@apamsa.org with any questions!
ERAS Workshop
Join us on Wednesday, August 7th at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST via Zoom for our Personal Statement and ERAS Workshop. We’re excited to have Dr. Grace Kajita, IM Program Director at Montefiore, and Dr. Indu Partha, IM Program Director at the University of Arizona, Tucson, as our distinguished guests. These experienced program directors will share their expert tips and strategies to help you stand out in your residency application. Gain firsthand advice, learn how to effectively present your experiences and strengths, and participate in a Q&A to get your questions answered. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your application and set yourself apart!
Mark your calendars and join us for this workshop!
Meeting ID: 990 4810 7729
Passcode: 294708
A Message From Our President
Welcome to APAMSA! Thank you for visiting our website and learning more about our initiatives for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) pre-medical students, medical students, physicians, and community members.
As the largest, official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the unique health challenges of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, we are driven by a mission to enact meaningful change. Since our inception in 1995, APAMSA has been pivotal in combating health disparities through robust leadership, mentorship, advocacy, research, and service. With over 170 chapters spanning nine regions, we are strategically positioned to impact the AANHPI communities directly, delivering critical services and fostering health equity where it is most needed.
APAMSA has intensified its focus on preventative health measures by championing hepatitis, cancer, and mental health education. Our local chapters have been instrumental in enacting change on the ground by organizing health fairs, advocating for policy changes, expanding research participation, and educating the public about health disparities. We have strengthened our commitment to inclusivity by leading committees and initiatives that serve diverse subgroups within our community. Through civic engagement and professional development initiatives, we are amplifying AANHPI voices and preparing a new generation of healthcare leaders.
Join us in fulfilling our 2024 National Goals:
- Expanding Educational Initiatives: Educating both patients and healthcare providers on the unique health challenges and disparities AANHPI communities face.
- Spearheading Diversity: Strengthening our commitment to inclusivity by advocating for diverse subgroups within the AANHPI community, and creating more opportunities for traditionally marginalized groups.
- Promoting AANHPI-Centered Research: Creating opportunities for students to learn from researchers who conduct AANHPI-centered research, identify and address specific health and professional challenges that AANHPI communities face, and disseminate this research at national and regional conferences.
- Strengthen Mentorship Programs: Guiding the next generation of healthcare leaders by matching mentees with mentors who share similar experiences.
- Grow Our Alumni and Membership Base: Bridging connections between local and national APAMSA through joint initiatives, events, and socials.
- Enhance Partnerships: Strengthen our partnership with allied organizations and creating more opportunities for inter-organizational collaboration.
We invite you to join us in our mission by becoming a member of APAMSA HERE and following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay connected with us. Stand with APAMSA and become a catalyst for health equity. Let’s ensure that every member of the AANHPI community has access to the quality, culturally-sensitive healthcare they deserve. Together, we can create lasting change!
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King
Yours sincerely,
Victoria J. Shi
She/Her/Hers
President
president@apamsa.org
Helen Heo, National Conference Director
Network Director
Helen Heo is a third-year MD/PhD student at the Duke University School of Medicine. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she completed her B.S. in Neurobiology and Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before spending a year in San Francisco, CA as a SENS Research Foundation Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. She then moved to Durham, NC to pursue her MD/PhD training at Duke. She is completing her PhD in lab of Dr. Cagla Eroglu, where her research will focus on the role of astrocytes in Multiple Sclerosis using human cellular models.
She has been involved in Duke’s chapter of APAMSA for the past three years, serving as chapter president in 2023-2024. She is excited to serve as a National Conference Logistics Director for the 2025 National APAMSA Conference, and is looking forward to celebrating APAMSA as well as introducing attendees to Duke and Durham!