2024 Region III Conference
Peril, Power, Progress: Navigating AANHPI Identity and Advocacy in the Public Space
Date: Saturday, October 5th, 2024, 9 AM-4 PM
Location: Drexel University College of Medicine (60 N 36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104)
Registration Details: Click below for more info
APAMSA Region III and the APAMSA chapter at Drexel University College of Medicine are so excited to welcome you to this year’s Region III Conference! Our theme this year is “Peril, Power, Progress: Navigating AANHPI Identity and Advocacy in the Public Space.”
Location: Drexel University College of Medicine (60 N 36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104)
Date: Saturday, October 5th, 2024
Time: 9 AM – 4 PM, with an optional post-conference social afterwards
At our conference, we want to explore the intersection between medicine, political involvement and AANHPI identity, a theme that seems particularly timely during this election year. What does activism look like on the ground, working with local community stakeholders? How can we emphasize health equity and strive towards eliminating disparities in our future practices as health professionals?
We hope this conference can be a space where we can form lasting connections with one another and be empowered to be a voice for change in our communities. Registration will include attendance to talks from a variety of wonderful speakers, networking opportunities, a space to present your research, workshops, lunch, and more!
Ticket Pricing:
Early bird tickets are $20 (until 9/28).
Regular pricing after 9/28 is $25
Saturday, October 5
Time | Event | Location |
8:00 – 9:00 AM |
Pre-Registration |
1st Floor Lobby |
9:00-9:30 AM |
Opening Statements |
1W03-05 |
9:30-10:15 AM |
Keynote AddressSpeaker: Walter Tsou “Reflections on Health Equity: An Unending Journey” |
1W03-05 |
10:15-10:30 |
Break |
|
10:30 – 11:30 AM |
Breakout: Professional Development |
|
|
Session 1: Specialty Networking Session (Fireside Chat)For the list of physicians attending and their bios, please see our speaker tab |
4E05 |
Session 2: Pre-Health Panel (Q&A)For the list of students attending and their bios, please see our speaker tab |
4E06 | |
11:30 AM- 12:40 PM |
Lunch & Research Poster Session |
4E04 |
12:40-2:45 PM |
Breakout Sessions: Skills and Community Health |
|
12:40-2:00 PM |
Skills Sessions |
|
Session 1: Intubation WorkshopLed by: Steven Pham DO, Sophia Chiu MS, MD |
7E19 | |
Session 2: Suture WorkshopLed by: Jason Han MD, Justin Ly MD, Sophia Dang MD, Yazid K Ghanem, MD |
4E06 | |
Session 3: Lumbar Puncture WorkshopLed by: Linda Xu, MD |
7E17 | |
Session 4: Advocacy by AMA |
4E05 | |
All sessions will run twice with every attendee getting the chance to attend one clinical workshop + advocacy; you will be given the opportunity rank your preference at registration and assigned a group accordingly | ||
2:00-2:45 PM |
Community Health Sessions |
|
Session 1: Mango Tree CounselingSpeaker: Hanna Lee, ATR, MA, MA, BFA |
1W03-05 | |
Session 2: No Arena in ChinatownSpeakers: No Arena JeffMed: Sharon Chen, DNP, FNP-BC, Dr. Bill King, “Jimmy” Cheemeng Low, NREMT |
4E06 | |
Session 3: Kevin Rituzel, Koreatown LA Community Health ClinicSpeaker: Kevin Riutzel, MS, DO
|
4E05 | |
3:00-3:30 PM |
Hep B UnitedSpeaker: Catherine Freeland, PhD, MPH |
1W03-05 |
3:30 PM | Conference End and Closing Statements | 1W03-05 |
Stay tuned as we reveal more speakers!
Walter Tsou, MD, MPH
Keynote Speaker
Walter Tsou, MD, MPH is a nationally known consultant on public health and health care reform. He is a retired Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania where he taught community health at their Center for Public Health Initiatives. He is a Past President of the American Public Health Association and former Health Commissioner of Philadelphia. He was the founding Deputy Director for Personal Health Services and Medical Director of the Montgomery County (PA) Health Department from 1991-2000. He has extensive experience in public health and has lectured widely on public health and health disparities.
Nationally, he is a Board Advisor at Physicians for a National Health Program and Healthcare-NOW. He is Past Chair of the Board of the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. Locally he is on the boards of Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, Hepatitis B Foundation, Health Care for All Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia County Medical Society. His medical degree is from the University of Pennsylvania; his MPH is from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, and he has an honorary Doctorate in Medical Sciences from Drexel University.
Kevin Riutzel MS, DO
Community Health Speaker
Born in South Korea and raised in the greater LA area, Kevin Riutzel is a family physician currently working in Los Angeles, CA. The clinic he works at is a federally-qualified health center in LA’s Koreatown primarily serving local Korean-American and local AAPI communities, many of whom are the 1st generation in their families to immigrate to the U.S.
He has served in several roles for the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association including National President for three terms. He finished his undergraduate studies at UC San Diego and graduate studies at Columbia University. After graduating from Touro University Nevada, he completed his training in family medicine at UC Irvine with a focus on integrative medicine. He served as one of the chief residents while at UC Irvine.
Kevin takes a particular interest in mental health in AAPI communities along with providing an integrative and holistic approach to the care he offers to the communities he serves while focusing on a work-life balance to stay energized for the patients he serves.
Hanna Lee (she/her), ATR, MA, MA, BFA
Community Health Speaker: Mango Tree Counseling and Consulting
Hanna Lee (she/her) is a disabled and neurodivergent Korean-American art therapist and art educator with an extensive background in working with people of all ages and abilities. She is a passionate proponent of using the arts to provide a variety of supports for historically marginalized populations and has spoken on this topic through organizations such as the National Art Educators Association, Department of VSA at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the International Conference on Disability Studies, Arts, and Education. Working with and advocating for diverse communities has allowed her to explore art-making as an unlimited means of honest expression and personal growth beyond the social, economic, physical, and intellectual limits to which people are often confined.
Lee’s educational background includes a Masters in Art Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University and a Masters in Art Education with an emphasis on Inclusive Practices from Moore College of Art & Design. She currently works with Asian Americans as a therapist at Mango Tree Counseling & Consulting and serves as Director of Research at the Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative to provide investigative research, advocacy, and resources for Asian Americans with disabilities. Lee is also an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Moore, where she is currently establishing an art therapy minor.
Sharon Chen, DNP, FNP-BC
Community Health Speaker: No Arena Jeff Med
Sharon is a Family Nurse Practitioner who provides primary care in Mandarin and English at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Philadelphia Chinatown. She studied Environmental Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed her nursing education at Columbia University. As a former Care Coordination Nurse and School Nurse in several outpatient settings, she has a special interest in understanding how social, cultural, and environmental factors affect health status. In her spare time, she runs the @ClimateHealthNurse blog and Instagram page, where she writes about sustainability and wellbeing.
“Jimmy” Cheemeng Low, NREMT
ACLS, PALS, BLS, Certified in Ultrasound Guided IV, Burn Wound Care specialist
United State Air National Guard 4N (LPN), BLS Instruction, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Instructor, Certified CPR Instructor
Community Health Speaker: No Arena Jeff Med
Jimmy was born and raised outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He came to the US in 1995 to pursue his education and after exploring several paths became an EMT. In 2005 he joined the National Guard where he went on to oversee medical logistics for the 111th Medical Group. He has been working as an EMT or Technician inside the hospital since 2007. He holds many specialty medical certificates and has wide ranging experience working in the emergency room, trauma department, surgical ICU, and remote medicine. Jimmy achieved Master Sergeant rank and teaches several courses through the Air Guard as a 4N, which is the civilian equivalent of an LPN.
Anudeeta Gautam
Community Health Speaker: Advocacy by AMA
Her AMA journey began as President of the LKSOM AMA Chapter during her first year, and she now serves as the AMA-MSS Region 6 Chair and a Delegate in both the MSS and Pennsylvania caucuses to the AMA House of Delegates. Organized advocacy has been the most transformative part of her medical school experience, showing her the power of persistent, diverse voices, even when outnumbered. She is passionate about helping others find their voice and forge their unique path. Outside of work, you can find her at a dance workshop learning a new style, exploring the Philly neighborhoods with her camera, or booking her next flight.
Catherine Freeland, PhD, MPH
Hep B United
Catherine Freeland is the Associate Director of Public Health Research at the Hepatitis B Foundation. Catherine received her Ph.D. at Thomas Jefferson University, College of Population Health with a concentration in Health Behavior Science and a dissertation on addressing low hepatitis B birth dose uptake in Nigeria. She led the effort to incorporate values and preferences for people with lived experience within the updated 2024 World Health Organization Guidelines and continues to focus on addressing barriers and facilitators to hepatitis B elimination globally.
Resident/Fellow Panel
Pratistha Koirala, MD, PhD
Obstetrics & Gynecology/Gynecologic Oncology, Temple University
Pratistha Koirala, MD, PhD, was elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees in June 2021. Dr. Koirala is a gynecologic oncology fellow at Fox Chase Cancer Center and Temple University in Philadelphia.
Dr. Koirala’s health care journey began thousands of miles away, in Nepal, in the foothills of the tallest mountains in the world. In pursuit of education her family immigrated to the United States when she was a child. Her family story, of poverty and a lack of access to health care, inspired her to become a physician. Years later, as a medical student in the Bronx, she cared for patients living in the poorest congressional district in the United States. After witnessing the impact of social determinants of health on both a population and at an individual patient level, she became active in health policy, aiming to better the health and well-being of her community.
When she joined the AMA as a medical student, one of her first endeavors was celebrating and promoting the organization’s accomplishments as a membership recruitment chair. Since then, Dr. Koirala has served in multiple leadership roles in organized medicine; notably, she was a member of the Executive Council of the Medical Society of the State of New York and served on the board of directors of the AMA Political Action Committee.
Dr. Koirala attended college at the University of Connecticut and graduated with a major in biology. She completed her MD, her MS in genetics, and her PhD in molecular pharmacology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her research has ranged from understanding the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in sarcoma to the genetic basis of cardiac development. She completed residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Danbury Hospital and a health equity fellowship at Boston Medical Center. As a physician scientist, Dr. Koirala understands the power the AMA has as a trusted voice in medicine and public health.
Dr. Koirala’s work and accomplishments within the AMA reflect the value she places in diversity in medicine and health equity. Her actions and advocacy are driven by her personal story as an immigrant, as someone who has lived in poverty, as a woman, as a scientist, and as a trainee working with underserved populations.
Minh Than, MD, PhD
Internal Medicine, Hematology-Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Minh Than is a third-year Hematology-Oncology fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. He was born in Denver, Colorado. He studied molecular biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder before completing a combined MD/PhD at Yale University. He completed Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Pennsylvania. His current interests include basic and translational science for improving therapeutic strategies for solid malignancies. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, board games, and the Philly food scene.
Cecilia Jiang, MD
Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
Cecilia Jiang is a fifth-year radiation oncology resident at the University of Pennsylvania. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in Edison, NJ. She studied biology at the University of Chicago and worked as a hospitalist scribe at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ for a year after graduation. She then completed her medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include radiation toxicity mitigation and imaging. In her free time, she enjoys visiting bakeries, used bookstores, and picnicking in the park.
Jason Han, MD
Cardiac Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
Jason Han is currently a cardiac surgery resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is in his 8th and last year of training and aspires to be an academic cardiac surgeon with a focus on humanism, education, and writing. He has been recognized for these efforts as the recipient of the Penn Pearl Teaching Award, the Donald Liu Hero of Humanism in Surgery Award, and the Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics. As a medical student and resident, he wrote a monthly column for the Philadelphia Inquirer that combined personal experiences with deeper reflections on patient perspectives. He has written over 80 columns to-date and has been featured at various regional and national meetings such as the “Telling Your Health Story” and “Finding Your Voice” conferences. He has written extensively about his identity as a Korean American Immigrant, and how his background influences, and enhances his interactions with patients. In the academic sphere, his writing about surgical education and culture has been featured in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and Annals of Surgery.
Sophia Dang, MD
Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
Justin Ly, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery, Temple University Hospital
Alison Yu, MD
Otorhinolaryngology, Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
Jonas Kwok, MD
Pediatric & Internal Medicine, Nephrology Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
Esha Jain, MD
Family Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
In addition to her advocacy efforts, Dr. Jain has dedicated significant time to assisting international medical graduates in navigating the residency matching process. Serving as an ambassador for matcharesident, and other companies, she provides invaluable guidance and support to aspiring physicians. Maintaining a commitment to academic excellence, Dr. Jain has contributed to the medical literature through the publication of multiple journal articles. Furthermore, she actively mentors medical students, fostering their intellectual growth and scholarly pursuits.
Central to Dr. Jain’s professional ethos is her unwavering dedication to promoting equitable access to primary care. She espouses a patient-centered approach, characterized by empathy and compassion, in her clinical practice. Moreover, she is resolute in her mission to combat medical misinformation, recognizing its detrimental effects on patient health and well-being. Through her multifaceted contributions, she endeavors to enhance the health outcomes of her patients and their families while advancing the broader objectives of her profession.
Roy Wang, MD
Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Nilanjan Haldar, MD
Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Derek Sung, MD, PhD
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Resident, University of Pennsylvania
Edward Guo, MD
Emergency Medicine, Emergency Ultrasound, Cooper University Hospital
Jason Yuan, MD
Interventional Radiology/ Diagnostic Radiology Integrated Residency, University of Pennsylvania
Linda Xu, MD
Neurology Resident , University of Pennsylvania
Bianca Ho, MD, MSc
Diagnostic Radiology, University of Pennsylvania
Irene Tsai, MD
Internal Medicine, Temple University
Yazid K Ghanem, MD
General Surgery, Cooper University Healthcare
Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Internship: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Residency: Cooper University Healthcare (General Surgery)
Clinical Interests: Colorectal Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Minimally Invasive Surgery
Research Interests: Basic Science, New Technology, AI, Outcomes
Steven Pham, DO
Anesthesiology, West Virginia University
Shreya Makkapati MD
Cardiology, Temple University Hospital
Mariam Ansar
Internal Medicine, Cooper University Hospital
Dr. Mariam Ansar is an Internal Medicine PGY-2 Resident physician at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey. She completed her medical school from Medical College & Hospital, in Kolkata, India and has worked there in critical care and emergency medicine for 2 years. She is passionate about community outreach internationally and seeks to impact global healthcare. Recently she was part of a global health elective to native communities in Bocas Del Toro, Panama is association with Floating Doctor’s (a nonprofit NGO). Previous year, she played a crucial part in organizing a ‘Winter coat drive’ organized by Cooper at Mount Cavalry Chruch, NJ. She is the co-president of GME Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council for this session 2024-2025 at Cooper Hospital and is also the founder of Usmle_Helpline, an initiative to mentor students from across the world on a similar journey to residency. She has previously been the College representative for South Asian Medical Student’s Association (SAMSA), Elsevier Student Ambassador, and has organized several health camps in India in association with Child Rights and Youth (CRY) organization.
Eunice Choe, MD
Family Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Hi everyone, I’m Eunice! I’m a PGY-2 Family Medicine Resident at the Jefferson Center City campus. I studied Biology and Health: Science, Society and Policy at Brandeis University. After college, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA to secure $700,000 in grant funding for a rural behavioral health organization. I then attended SUNY Upstate Medical University, where I contributed over 400 hours of advocacy and community service. Notable moments included representing 17 medical schools at the Medical Society State of New York House of Delegates; teaching medicine to high school students; providing respite to Hospice patients; fundraising for migrant workers; and working with Syracuse University law students to run a COVID-19-based writing competition and publication in the Syracuse Law Review. In 2021, I was awarded the National Health Service Corps scholarship, which paid for two years of medical school in exchange for working as a doctor in a medically underserved community. In residency, I’m working on my MPH at the Jefferson College of Population Health and enjoying going to Washington DC to advocate for our patients. Outside of medicine, I love getting late-night water ice with my church community group, attending free concerts at the Curtis, and going on Philly food adventures with my boyfriend. Would love to talk to you about health advocacy and medicine!
Jessica Yang, DO
Family Medicine, Bryn Mawr Hospital
Jessica is a second-year family medicine resident at Bryn Mawr Hospital. She attended Case Western Reserve University for college and received her medical degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in New Jersey. She also doubled as a writer who covered Asian American literature for various publications and explored her identity as a Chinese American immigrant. Her writing has been featured in Zora, Los Angeles Review of Books, and many other publications. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and visiting museums.
Zoha Shahabuddin, DO
Pediatrics, Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Hi! I’m a PGY-2 in the Pediatrics Residency Program at Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. I’m a proud New Jersian, went to Columbia University for undergrad where I majored in economics, and went to Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. I plan to apply for pediatric gastroenterology fellowship after residency. Some of my hobbies are traveling, hiking, painting (not well!), and exploring Philadelphia on foot (you never know what interesting things you’ll stumble across). I‘ve been passionate about creating spaces for dialogue about Asian American identity and the Asian American experience since undergrad, both inside and outside the context of medicine. I hope to use my career to support diverse voices and advocate for diverse needs.
TingAnn Hsiao, MD, MPH
Psychiatry, Cooper University Hospital
TingAnn Hsiao is a first year psychiatry resident at Cooper University Hospital. She was born in southern New Jersey. For college, she attended Cornell University and completed a major in Human Biology, Health, and Society and a minor in Health Policy. Afterwards, she pursued her MD/MPH at Thomas Jefferson University. During medical school, she conducted qualitative research and completed her master’s thesis on fentanyl test strips and other harm reduction strategies in the Emergency Department. Her current clinical interests include consult-liaison and addiction psychiatry. Outside of clinical work, she enjoys fostering cats and taking care of her houseplants.
Monica Nguyen, MD
Internal Medicine, Lankenau Medical Center
Robert "Robi" Francis Talaue Bucayu, MD, MPH
Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Pre-Health Panel
Sharon Kim
MSN Candidate, Johns Hopkins
Louise Paed
Pharmacy Student, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
Julia Ossman
Pharmacy Student, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
Christopher Xie
Medical Student, Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Christopher grew up in Chappaqua, New York, and attended Haverford College, where he majored in biology and competed in men’s foil as part of the fencing team. After graduation, he spent three years researching breast cancer therapeutics at Thomas Jefferson University, which deepened his passion for medicine and solidified his commitment to the field. Currently, Christopher is a second-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. He serves as the president of APAMSA at Jefferson, which focuses on addressing healthcare disparities, promoting health equity, and advocating for AAPI health issues. He is also actively involved in JeffHOPE, a student-run organization that provides free healthcare services to underserved and homeless populations in Philadelphia as a Screening and Procedures CM at Our Brother’s Place.
Anuhea Leite-Ah Yo
Physician Assistant Student, Drexel University
Anuhea Leite-Ah Yo, a proud Native Hawaiian, is currently in her clinical year as a Physician Assistant student at Drexel University. Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, she graduated from Kamehameha Schools: Kea’au in 2014 and later earned her degree in Biology, with a minor in Psychology, from Wells College in New York. Along her journey, she gained valuable experience working as an EMT-B, Physical Therapy aide, Chiropractic aide, and Registered Behavioral Technician, each role deepening her love for caring for others.
In her free time, Anuhea enjoys being in the ocean surfing, playing volleyball, and cooking with her ‘ohana and friends. Her heart has always been with her Native Hawaiian community, who have helped her become who she is today. Anuhea’s path in medicine is driven by her desire to bring knowledge and care back home to Hawai’i, where she hopes to serve those who need it most and continue the spirit of aloha.
Christine Bae
Dental Student, University of Pennsylvania
Andrew He
Physical Therapist
Andrew attended University of the Sciences in Philadelphia for his undergraduate studies and earned his Bachelor’s of Health Sciences in 2020. He then continued to pursue a career in physical therapy and graduated with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Saint Joseph’s University in May 2023.
Andrew has a strong passion for helping others and loves to treat patients with a variety of orthopedic conditions. He enjoys treating athletes and would love to work with more as he begins his career. He would like to pursue continuing education courses to further specialize in athletic rehab as well as TMJ dysfunction, lumbar spine, and cervical spine rehabilitation.
He would describe himself as an “optimistic individual with a sense of humor”. Andrew was a former high school varsity tennis player and continues to play tennis recreationally as well as basketball and football at a recreational level. He loves fishing and is an avid Philly sports fan.
Address
Drexel University Health Sciences Building (60 N 36th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104)
Parking
The nearest parking lot is LOT G at 3330 Market Street. On weekends it is $14 per day starting at 5 AM.
Evenings 10 PM-5 AM: additional $8 fee applies.
Directions into the parking lot:
Enter the Garage on Ludlow Street.
Please pull at ticket to enter Garage. Payment is required before exiting the Garage. To leave facility, please pay at kiosk in lobby or at kiosk at exit ramp inside your vehicle. You must exit within 15 minutes of payment. If you encounter any issues, please use the help button located on the payment kiosk
To pay:
- Use your ticket and a credit card or cash at the first floor kiosk located in lobby, entrance off of Market Street
- Use your ticket and a credit card at the exit gate
- Text PAY to 321.341.2288 for one-time payment or to establish a secure profile
You can find more detailed information and FAQs regarding parking on Drexel’s website.
There is also street parking available within walking distance, although it may not always be available.
Accommodations
The Drexel University Health Sciences Building is located in University City. There are some locations nearby, listed below, but we encourage you to reach out to local students for more affordable accommodations. There may also be more affordable options in Center City and other areas in Philadelphia if you are willing to travel.
Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel
3549 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Homewood Suites by Hilton University City Philadelphia, PA
4109 Walnut St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
The Inn at Penn, a Hilton Hotel
3600 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
We are excited to offer an opportunity for you to present any research that you have been involved in at our Region III conference this year.
We hope this can be a space where we can showcase and appreciate the amazing work everyone has been involved in. Abstracts presented at other conferences or published in journals can still be submitted for review. We welcome submission of all topics!
For more information and to submit an application, please click the link below.
National Board
Stephen Chien
Region III Director
Drexel University College of Medicine
Jeffrey Wang
Region III Director
Drexel University College of Medicine
Sandy Yang
Region III Director
Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Jessica Hseuh
Co-Membership VP
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Local Chapter Leadership: Drexel Univeresity College of Medicine and Temple University
Lillian Phung
DUCOM APAMSA Co-President
Lucy Zhou
DUCOM APAMSA Co-President
Kevin Lim
DUCOM APAMSA Advocacy and Education Chair
Winni Gao
DUCOM Advocacy and Education Chair
Bobby Van
DUCOM APAMSA Community Service Chair
Celter Odango
DUCOM Community Service Chair
Sharon Shania
DUCOM APAMSA Social Chair
Olivia Nguyen
Temple University Pre-Medical APAMSA President
Contact Us
Questions? Email us at region3@apamsa.org
2023 Region III Conference
Healing Our Past: Nurturing AANHPI Advocacy and Visibility
Date: September 16th, 2023
Time: 12 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Welcome!
We are pleased to announce that the Region III Conference will be held on September 16th at Temple University!
This year’s theme is “Healing Our Past: Nurturing AANHPI Advocacy and Visibility“. We will be featuring incredible speakers who are working to reinforce and propel our visibility as individuals and as a community, taking us beyond the boundaries and confinements of our past into the future. Regional conferences provide amazing opportunities to meet and network with inspiring AANHPI leaders and healthcare professionals in the community. Event registration includes attendance to our conference, lunch and conference goodies, networking opportunities, and a chance to win raffles! We will also be having a post-conference social where you can meet the other members from Region III.
Date: Saturday, September 16
Time: 12 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Temple University
Stay tuned for more updates as we reveal more information on our speakers and vendors, our in-person social, and travel grants to support attending the conference.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at region3@apamsa.org.
We hope to see you all there!
Schedule
11 AM – 12 PM: Registration
12 PM – 12:15 PM: Opening Statements and Introduction
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Keynote Speaker – Dr. Lin Zhu
1:00 PM – 1:15 PM: Break
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM: Stigmatized Topics (Breakout Groups – please attend 2 out of 3)
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- Advocacy and Leadership – Dr. Thoin Begum
- AANHPI Child Psychiatrist: Upbringing and Culture – Dr. Xiaoxi Ouyang
- Mental Health Initiative and Advocacy – Dr. Esther Hio-Tong Castillo
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM: Break
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: Professional Development/Leadership (Breakout Groups – please attend 1)
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- Prehealth Panel – Madhu Badri
- Residency Panel – Dr. Iris Charcos
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM: No Arena in Chinatown – Mohan Seshadri
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Social Hour
4:30 PM: Closing Statements
Dr. Lin Zhu, PhD
Health Disparities Research Scientist, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Health Disparities Research Scientist, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Dr. Lin Zhu (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Urban Health and Population Science at the Center for Asian Health (CAH), Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University. She is the Principle Investigator of research projects funded by the American Heart Association and the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. She also serves as Co-Investigator and Data Manager on over a dozen projects funded by NIH, CDC, DHHS, and other funding agencies. Dr. Zhu earned her PhD in medical sociology from the Department of Sociology at Temple University in 2016. Her dissertation was a study of the sociocultural determinants depression prevalence, symptom patterns, and service utilization among Chinese immigrants. She completed her postdoctoral training at Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine. A medical sociologist by training, Dr. Zhu is dedicated to investigating the intricate interplay of diverse factors at different levels, from individual and social to cultural and systemic/structural, that influence health behaviors and outcomes in underrepresented populations. Her research covers critical health areas such as cancer screening and prevention behaviors, cardiometabolic diseases, sexual health, and mental health. She has received accolades from the American Heart Association, American Psychological Association, and other national organizations for her contribution to health disparities research and community engagement. Dr. Zhu is a first generation immigrant and first generation college student, the daughter of a public servant and a school administrator.
Dr. Xiaoxi Ouyang, MD
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Georgetown University School of Medicine
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Georgetown University School of Medicine
Dr. Ouyang is a board-certified pediatrician, general psychiatrist, and child and adolescent psychiatrist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Georgetown University School of Medicine.
She currently serves patients in the Georgetown Psychiatry Clinic and families cared for by primary care pediatricians in the Division of Community Pediatrics/Kids Mobile Medical Van Clinic. She received her medical degree from Saint Louis University and completed residency training in the Triple Board Program (Pediatrics, General Psychiatry, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) at Indiana University, where she served as chief resident in her last year. She is also a fellowship-trained perinatal/reproductive psychiatrist from Brown University/Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.
Dr. Thoin Begum, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Dr. Thoin Begum earned her PhD from the University at Albany, SUNY in 2022, with a focus on environmental chemical exposures and social disability among American Indian elders. She also holds an MS in Environmental Health Sciences (2020) from the same institution and a BS in Biology (2018) from Saint Lawrence University. During her PhD program, Dr. Begum conducted research on the health impacts of contaminants such as PCBs, PFAS, and phthalates among vulnerable groups. Her work has contributed to 11 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Begum is an active member of the Society for Epidemiologic Research and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. Currently, Dr. Begum serves as a postdoctoral research fellow at Temple University’s Center for Asian Health, where they focus on hepatitis screening and structural racism in healthcare. Her research interests encompass environmental epidemiology, reproductive health, cumulative risk assessment, health disparities, and community-based participatory research. Dr. Begum is deeply committed to conducting impactful research for environmental justice while also engaging in mentoring and community involvement.
Dr. Esther Hio-Tong Castillo, PhD
Director of Racial Equity, Storytelling & Community Impact, Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity in the City of Philadelphia
Director of Racial Equity, Storytelling & Community Impact, Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity in the City of Philadelphia
Dr. Esther Castillo is the Director of Racial Equity, Storytelling & Community Impact at the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity in the City of Philadelphia, where she leads the integration of racial equity into governmental operations and community engagement and works to promote equity in BIPOC and immigrant communities across the city. She has founded and led several initiatives that have made a positive difference in the lives of many people, such as the Chinese Immigrant Families Wellness Initiative (CIFWI), which promotes mental health in Chinese immigrant communities, and the award-winning short documentary “Feeling Asian American”, which sheds light on the unseen racism faced by Asian Americans. She also serves as a board member at Scattergood Foundation, where she provides expertise on DEI matters and strategic recommendations on equitable grant-making practices.
Dr. Castillo holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Temple University, where she taught classes on immigration, race and racism, and globalization. She is a sought-after speaker on DEI, racial equity, culture change, and community partnership and impact, and regularly delivers powerful talks that inspire and motivate others to take action for social justice. She believes that everyone has a story to tell, and that storytelling is a powerful tool for creating positive change in governments, philanthropies, and communities.
Mohan Seshadri
Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance and founder of the Asian American Community Fund of Pennsylvania
Mohan Seshadri (they/he) is the Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance and founder of the Asian American Community Fund of Pennsylvania. He is currently serving as the co-chair of the Asian American Power Network. Previously, Mohan managed electoral and organizing programs for Planned Parenthood across Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. From 2019-2020, they served as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. He co-founded multiple community and campus organizing programs across Pennsylvania including the Philadelphia chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the Lehigh Valley chapter of DSA, and the AAPI PA Power Caucus. In 2018, they were honored to receive Resurrected Life Community Church’s Urban Angel Award. In 2021, they were featured on the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics & Public Affairs 40 under 40 list.
Dr. QeeQee Gao, MD
PGY-2 Psychiatry Resident at the University of Pennsylvania
PGY-2 Psychiatry Resident at the University of Pennsylvania
Hi, I’m QeeQee (pronounced “Chee-Chee”)! I was born in China and grew up in Manhattan, Kansas. From living and dying to neurons and networks, and everything in between, I am excited and inspired by all things human. I majored in biology at MIT, where I discovered the great joys of humanities and social sciences. After two gap years of teaching and serving coffee, I began medical school at the University of Kansas to become a surgeon. Little did I know that I would gravitate to the unassuming pursuit of human connection and meaning that is psychiatry! I hope to combine my love for art and science with policy and innovation to reimagine the social landscape. I am interested in the interdisciplinary crossovers of community and cultural psychiatry, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and medical humanities. In my downtime, you can find me listening to podcasts, binging Netflix reality tv, and occasionally writing a thing or two.
Dr. Leon Jia, MD
PGY-3 Emergency Medicine Resident, University of Pennsylvania
PGY-3 Emergency Medicine Resident, University of Pennsylvania
Leon was born in Texas and grew up in Virginia. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University as a biology major before going to University of Virginia School of Medicine. He couples-matched to University of Pennsylvania for Emergency Medicine, where he is a PGY-3 interested in critical care and operations.
Sharmaine Cubelo
4th Year Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, Temple University School of Pharmacy
4th Year Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, Temple University School of Pharmacy
Sharmaine Cubelo is a fourth-year Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA. She grew up in New Jersey and her family is originally from the Philippines. She is a family-oriented Filipino woman, always seeking to empower minorities within her community. Growing up, she has witnessed how health literacy, language, and cultural barriers impact the health and lifestyle of minority communities.
Sharmaine’s passion for Mental Health advocacy is her driving force and inspires her to make a difference within her community. She chose to attend Temple Pharmacy because she was aware that Philadelphia is a city filled with numerous, unaddressed health disparities that require a call to action.
As the 2021-2022 Temple SNPhA Chapter President, she was determined to grow and re-establish her chapter by reigniting the passion for serving the underserved. At the SNPhA 2022 Regions I & II Conference, she received the fruits of her labor when Temple University won the Region 1 Top Recruiter Award. Sharmaine also finds importance in advocating for legislation impacting the pharmacy profession and healthcare, especially those involving minority communities. This led her to expand Temple SNPhA by finally starting the LMBI initiative at her chapter.
As National President, Sharmaine is excited to continue developing confident student leaders, empowering minority health professionals, and elevating the future of pharmacy. Now is the time to make a difference in the world of pharmacy. Sharmaine is ready to Make an I.M.P.A.C.T. with her SNPhA family and continue serving underserved communities!
Dr. Janet Han, DO
2nd Year Emergency Medicine Resident , Jefferson Health Northeast
2nd Year Emergency Medicine Resident , Jefferson Health Northeast
Janet is a second year Emergency Medicine resident at Jefferson Health Northeast. She was born in the Bay Area in CA but raised in Dallas, TX. She earned a B.A. in Medical Humanities at Baylor University in 2017. She completed medical school in 2022 at Kansas City University, a D.O. program in Missouri. She found her way to Philly through a combination of navigating long distance marriage and her love for the program she is training at now. She is passionate about social medicine (especially in the ED setting), medical mentorship, and resident wellness. In her spare time you can find her along the Schuylkill training for the Philly half, perusing the aisles of Trader Joe’s, and spending time with her friends and husband.
Dr. Linda Xu, MD
3rd Year Neurology Resident , University of Pennsylvania
3rd Year Neurology Resident , University of Pennsylvania
Linda Xu is a third-year neurology resident at the University of Pennsylvania. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. She studied neurobiology at Harvard College before completing her medical degree at Harvard Medical School. Her clinical interests are in neurocritical care, and her research interests are in neuroimaging and traumatic brain injury. In her free time, she enjoys writing, playing soccer, and baking.
Dr. Gurtej Bajaj, MD
PGY-4 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Resident at the University of Pennsylvania
PGY-4 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Resident at the University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Iris Charcos, DO
Neurosurgery Resident, Cooper University Health Care
Neurosurgery Resident, Cooper University Health Care
Hi! I’m Iris Charcos and I am a PGY-3 Neurosurgery resident at Cooper University Hospital. I was born in the Philippines and grew up in the Bay Area in California and Phoenix, Arizona. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona where I studied Neuroscience and Anthropology. I spent two gap years working in the business side of the tech start-up field before attending medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. I enjoy seeing a wide variety of patients, but have a particular interest neuro trauma and cerebrovascular neurosurgery.
Dr. Mubarrat Bhuiyan, MD
PGY-3 Radiology Resident, University of Pennsylvania
PGY-3 Radiology Resident, University of Pennsylvania
Justin Judilla, PA-S2
Physician Assistant Student, Drexel University
Physician Assistant Student, Drexel University
Justin Judilla is a clinical year Physician Assistant student attending Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. His family is from the Philippines, and he currently resides in San Diego, CA. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science from California State University, Long Beach. He chose to attend school in Philadelphia to broaden his knowledge and experience firsthand the differences in patient demographics. He hopes to work in Emergency Medicine or Urgent Care after graduating in December, and to return to San Diego to share his medical knowledge with his community.
Dr. Maahika Srinivasan, MD
Family Medicine Resident, University of Pennsylvania
Family Medicine Resident, University of Pennsylvania
Maahika Srinivasan (she/her/hers) is a second-year Family Medicine resident at University of Pennsylvania. She grew up in New Delhi, India (by complicated way of Boulder, Colorado). After finishing her Bachelor’s in Science and Society from Brown University, she worked as an organizer in reproductive justice in New York City, helped managed clinical trials in the field of pulmonology, and completed a Master’s at Columbia University in Narrative Medicine. Maahika then obtained her MD from Harvard University. Her passion lies in the intersections of full-spectrum primary care, equity, and activism, along with music festivals, podcast-binging, food adventures of any kind.
Sharon Kim
Nursing Student, Johns Hopkins
Nursing Student, Johns Hopkins
Sharon Kim is born and raised in California who recently moved to the East Coast for Nursing School. She is currently at Johns Hopkins for her MSN and attended the University of La Verne for her undergraduate degree in Biology. During her gap years, she worked at Hyundai as an Executive Assistant to explore and see what else was out there outside of healthcare. She also has a non-profit called Through Love. where they help bring hope, healing and prayer to foster children in Tijuana, Mexico. Her passion lies in community outreach and she hopes to work as a travel nurse in the future with non-profits.
Madhu Badri
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
Madhu Badri is a second year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine at
Tower Health. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in physiology from Boston University in 2020,
and her Masters degree in medical sciences from Boston University School of Medicine in 2022.
Her thesis project focused on studying transcriptionally distinct neural networks underlying
addiction in mouse models, under the guidance of Dr. Yi Zhang at Boston Children’s
Hospital/Harvard Medical School. She is excited to be at the conference and grateful to have an
opportunity to share her pre-medical journey.
Address:
Temple University
Science Education and Research Center (SERC)
1925 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Directions to SERC:
- Turn right and walk on North 12th St.
- Walk past the Food Wall Stands, keep going straight!
- SERC is located on the right side (It is the tall glass building)
See the Campus Map for More Information!
Parking:
There are two parking lots that are close to the site: Montgomery Garage and Tuttleman Lot.
Montgomery Garage:
GPS address is 1859 N. 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 (11th Street between Montgomery Avenue and Berks Street)
- Credit cards, debit cards, and cash are accepted
- Pay at the Pay on Foot machine located in the lobby by the elevators (debit card, credit card, cash), or pay at the exit (debit card or credit card only. No cash)
- Accepted payment methods are credit and debit cards only. No cash
- Will be paid upon entering the facility
Tuttleman Lot:
GPS Address is 1205 W. Montgomery Avenue, Philadelphia. PA 19122 (Montgomery Avenue between 12th and 13th streets)
- Credit cards, debit cards, and cash are accepted at the kiosk machine. If paying cash, you must use exact change (the machine does not give change)
- Can also pay using the ParkMobile app
- Spots are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis
Accommodations:
Annie Sia (she/her/hers)
Temple Pre-Med APAMSA Co-President
Temple University
Julianna Visico (she/her/hers)
Temple Pre-Med APAMSA Co-President
Temple University
Anne Francine Pino (she/her/hers)
Region III Co-Director
Penn State College of Medicine
Stephen Chien (he/him/his)
Region III Co-Director
Drexel University College of Medicine
Mason Zhu (he/him/his)
Region III Co-Director
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Jessica Hsueh (she/her/hers)
APAMSA Membership VP
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Join us at Cira Green for our Post-Conference Social!
The conference may be over, but the excitement doesn’t have to end! Join us for a social gathering at Cira Green where you can unwind, network, and chat with other APAMSA chapters and speakers in a comfortable environment. Please feel free to bring an extra pair of clothes to change into after the conference has ended for full comfortability.
Address: 129 S 30th St, Philadelphia, PA 19121
*FOR THOSE TAKING REGIONAL RAIL*
- Locate Temple University’s Regional Rail (927 W Berks St, Philadelphia, PA 19122)
- Create a Septa Card ($10 Fee, but it goes towards your transit funds!)
- Enter Track 3 & 4
- Get on either of these trains:
- Airport
- Manayunk/Norristown
- Media/WaWa
- Paoli/Thorndale
- Warminister
- Get off at 30th St Station (William H. Gray III 30th Street, 2955 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104)
- Walk 6 minutes to Cira Green
Contact Us
Questions? Email us at region3@apamsa.org.
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