Statement on the Maui Wildfires
The past week has been marked by heart-wrenching devastation as wildfires tore through Lahaina, Maui. Beginning on August 8th, 2023, the Hawaiian island has been ablaze with what has now become the deadliest US wildfire in over 100 years—claiming over 100 lives, consuming over 2,000 acres of land, and costing almost $6 billion in damages. Although much of the fire has been contained, it has not been entirely extinguished, and it is unclear how many victims have yet to be accounted for.
National APAMSA grieves with and stands in support of our Maui community, especially the Native Hawaiian community. Along with all that has been lost, we recognize that the Native Hawaiian community has lost a sacred place with tremendous cultural significance and ties to their ancestors. The Native Hawaiian community has always drawn from their culture and history to do meaningful work in health, medical education, and diversity, so the losses are felt deeply from the APAMSA community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Maui and Native Hawaiian community and our local APAMSA chapter in Hawai’i.
We urge you to join us in supporting the people of Maui and the Native Hawaiian community. The need is both for the short-term and long-term future, as the Maui community begins to recover and rebuild. The best ways to support their endeavors are through monetary donations, of which community organizations and families are able to use funds as it best fits their needs.
The Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund
A nonprofit community organization that has established a fund to support Maui communities affected by recent fires, including response and recovery efforts.
You can donate here. (The website may be busy, in which case you can check their Instagram account for updates.)
Hui No Ke Ola Pono
A nonprofit community-based health care center, which is one of five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems. They are currently serving the community and providing supplies directly to those affected. They are requesting monetary donations as well as supplies to help families who are affected.
Other
A complete list of individual family funds can be found here.
UH Maui College
This fund is specific to students and their families directly impacted by the fires, whether they have lost homes, businesses, or jobs. As the new school year starts, you can help keep students, faculty, staff, and their families resilient during this unprecedented emergency.
Mahalo for your support!
For questions or concerns about this statement, please reach out to Eric Kim at rapidresponse@apamsa.org, Akila Ally at diversity@apamsa.org, Piueti Maka at nhpidirector@apams.org, or the Region 7 Directors at region7@apamsa.org
Maui Wildfires: Ways to Help!

Aloha APAMSA Family,
It is with a humble heart that your NHPI members and community are requesting your help given recent unfolding events of the Maui Wildfires. With all the damage currently, the Maui community needs your help more than ever.
The best way to help is via monetary donations. They are the most efficient and effective way to support disaster relief efforts, as material donations (food, water, clothes) may not always be suitable.
Below are a few of the best organizations for you to support. If you are unable to financially support at this time, you can also help by spreading the word to your friends, family, and institutions. Furthermore, while help is needed immediately, in the short-term, you may also consider donating at a later time as long-term support will be needed as the community rebuilds.
Finally, we ask that for all those with upcoming travel to Maui to not come in the near future. We hope that you may be able to cancel/reschedule. The community will need to reserve their limited resources for those in need and use hotels and other lodging areas to house displaced residents.
- Hui No Ke Ola Pono
A nonprofit community-based health care center, and is one of five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems. They are currently serving the community and providing supplies directly to those affected. They are requesting monetary donations as well as supplies to help families who are affected.
Donations: J.W. Cameron Center at 95 Mahalani Street, Bldg 4, Wailuku, HI 96793
Click here for more details for materials. - ʻĀina Momona
A nonprofit community organization involved in health and sustainability through social justice. They are asking for monetary donations which will be forwarded to Hawaii Community Foundation (consider this option if you are unable to load the HCF donation page).
Emergency Fundraiser for Maui Fires here. - The Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund
A nonprofit community organization that has established a fund support Maui communities affected by recent fires, including response and recovery efforts.
Please see website for donations. Please see Instagram account for updates. - The Hawaii Salvation Army
An international Christian organization with Hawaii’s branch providing meals for thousands displaced in Maui emergency shelters. They are asking for monetary donations and large volume meal donations from restaurants and certified kitchens to aid in mass meal service at Maui shelters.
Donate here. - Maui Humane Society
A nonprofit organization aimed at protecting and saving Maui’s animals. They are currently addressing the Wildfire Crisis to help with the injured and lost animals. They are requesting monetary donations as well as materials and supplies.
Instagram for details for material donations.
Monetary Donations Here.Mahalo for all of your support!
Combatting Structural Racism in Health Data - Dr. Taparra

We had the pleasure of having Dr. Taparra speak about the existing structural racism that looms over health data across the nation, and what we can do to get one step closer towards health equity among Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.
Beyond his research in NHPI health disparities and NHPI data disaggregation, Dr. Kekoa Taparra uses his platform as a physician-scientist to advocate for better care access and improving care equity for NHPI communities.
No Arena In Chinatown x Jefferson APAMSA
Philadelphia’s Chinatown is a growing community of Asian-owned small businesses, schools, and places of worship. With over 2,000 residents, it contains a senior housing complex, low-income housing, and many more apartments and houses. As the historical heart of Asian culture in the city–from its multitude of authentic restaurants and shops to its vibrant festivals–it is where Asian Americans across the Greater Philadelphia area can feel at home. However, as of July 2022, the owners of the professional NBA Basketball team, the 76ers, have proposed the construction of a sports arena at the border of Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
This proposal was made without consulting the residents, small business owners, or organizations within Chinatown that would be directly impacted. The building of this sports arena could lead to gentrification, displacement, and quality of life issues not only for the residents of Chinatown but also for the Center City community as a whole.
Under the coordination of Jefferson APAMSA President, Kameron Inguito Medical Student ’26, the Jefferson APAMSA chapter hosted a postcard writing tabling event standing in solidarity with the No Arena in Chinatown movement. This event allowed members of the community to write postcards showing support against the arena’s construction, which were promptly sent to the city council. Although this was a step in the right direction, we knew that we could do more.
With the help of our Jefferson APAMSA Cultural Director, Sandra Yang Medical Student ’26, the Jefferson APAMSA chapter led an event to teach about the proposed arena and its detrimental effects, and to create rally signs for the No Arena In Chinatown Protest, which took place on June 10th. One of the main goals of our APAMSA chapter is to advocate for and serve the Asian population in our community within Philadelphia. We recognize that there is still more work to be done, and we will continue this fight for as long as we can.
Save The Date For Our 17th Annual National APAMSA Hepatitis Conference!
🚨 SAVE THE DATE! 🚨 We are pleased to announce and invite you to the 17th Annual National APAMSA Hepatitis Conference taking place on November 11th, 2023 in Boston, MA! Stay tuned for additional announcements on speakers, poster presentations, funding, collaborations with the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and other logistics.

Response to the SCOTUS Ruling Against Race-Conscious Admissions
The morning of Thursday, June 29th, 2023 was marked by a groundbreaking turn of legal events as the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled on two historic cases: Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. With their ruling, SCOTUS banned the consideration of race in college admissions, thereby overturning decades of precedent supporting affirmative action policies. Indeed, the 1978 case Regents of University of California v. Bakke, the 2003 case Grutter v. Bollinger, and most recently, the 2016 case Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin all concluded that the consideration of race in college admissions is constitutional under the Equal Protection Clause, especially in light of the need to create a diverse educational environment. Regardless, SCOTUS has now ruled to the contrary: Race-conscious admissions in fact violate the Equal Protection Clause and must be prohibited. While students will still be able to identify themselves in their applications to speak about experiences of discrimination and hardship, the spirit of the ruling is nevertheless deeply problematic.
APAMSA has long promoted diversity in higher education. Our policy compendium includes Resolution 40.002 (Improving Campus Diversity Initiatives) and Resolution 40.003 (Defending Race-Conscious Admissions in Undergraduate Medical Education). More directly to the point, we joined the amicus brief written by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to support the protection of affirmative action policies in these very trials on which SCOTUS has now ruled.
We unambiguously and unequivocally oppose this SCOTUS ruling. It is a misguided attempt at promoting meritocracy in the midst of immense and complex historical and social inequities, such that to pursue meritocracy while ignoring those inequities is to aim horribly astray. Furthermore, we believe that our patients are best served by a diverse community of talented medical professionals, such that to limit that diversity from entering higher education is to endanger our patients.
The AANHPI community specifically should also strongly oppose this ruling. As Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayer eloquently articulates in her dissent, the AANHPI community needs race-conscious admissions to be fully respected. Asian Americans are victims of historical and current discrimination and stereotyping that require a diverse society, as promoted by affirmative action policies, to be overcome. Moreover, the AANHPI community is not a monolith, and it needs to be seen in its disaggregated and distinct diversity if its members are to be fully seen.
Ultimately, we call for SCOTUS to reconsider its decision and restore affirmative action to this nation’s higher education system. We also urge all other educational, pre-professional, and professional organizations to join us in fighting against this attack on racial equity and diversity.
For questions or concerns about this statement, please reach out to Eric Kim at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
Typhoon Mawar - Guam Disaster Relief
We are a group of medical students from Guam raising money for Typhoon Relief for our island community.
Guam, a gem nestled in the western Pacific Ocean, holds immense significance both historically and culturally. Known as “Where America’s Day Begins,” this stunning island community is a melting pot of Chamorro traditions and Western influences. With a rich history spanning centuries, Guam has captivated visitors with its breathtaking landscapes, pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and lush tropical rainforests. However, the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Mawar calls for our urgent attention and support to help Guam recover and rebuild from this natural disaster.
As you may be aware, Typhoon Mawar heavily impacted the U.S. territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) with intense winds, flooding rain, and a life-threatening storm surge Wednesday evening (May 24, 2023). Most of Guam is without power after sustained winds of 140 mph whipped across the islands. Electricity, water, gas, and communications (including internet services) may continue to be unavailable for weeks and perhaps months. Moreover, the only public hospital on the island (Guam Memorial Hospital) also sustained major damage with severe leaks, flooding, walls collapsing, and loss of the kitchen due to an electrical fire. President Biden declared that a major disaster exists on the island of Guam ordering Federal aid to supplement local recovery efforts. The White House Response
In light of the devastating effects of the typhoon, we are seeking your support to help aid the recovery and rebuilding efforts of our island home.
All funds raised will directly support local and national charities to obtain vital supplies for those most vulnerable in the community.
Funds will be distributed to support the following efforts:
-American Red Cross: Typhoon Mawar – Red Cross Donation Link
-Micronesian Climate Change Alliance – https://mccalliance.org/
-Salvation Army Disaster Relief Fund – https://guam.salvationarmy.org/guam/
-Purchase and deliver supplies for Guamanians displaced. Supplies needed include:
- Toiletries
- Candles
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Water
- Coolers
- Dry/nonperishable foods
- Tarps
- Cleaning Kits
- Rakes and Shovels
si Yu’us ma’åse’
Kai Akimoto, MS2 University of Minnesota School of Medicine
Ariana Barreau, MS4 Carle Illinois College of Medicine UIUC
CJ Hattori, MS1 University of California San Diego
Tiffie Keung, MS4 Michigan State University College of Medicine
Eric Pineda, MS4 Tulane University School of Medicine
Paul Tominez, MS3 University of California San Francisco
Jia Jia Zhang, MS3 Harvard Medical School
Congratulations on graduating! Stay connected to APAMSA with your free alumni membership!

To celebrate your graduation as an APAMSA member, we would like to extend an invitation for a free APAMSA alumni membership. We hope that APAMSA can continue to grow as a supportive community where people at all points in their medical training can build relationships, strengthen connections across state borders, and foster diversity in the medical field. To redeem your membership, please visit: https://app.joinit.com/o/nationalapamsa. If you already have a membership, you can renew your membership as an alumni at no cost.
CONGRATS to the 2023 President's Award for Distinguished Service Honorees!


CONGRATS to our graduating M4s who received the 2023 President’s Award for Distinguished Service! Join us as we recognize and honor these 10 APAMSA student leaders who have dedicated years of service, achievement, and committment to empowering our membership and AANHPI community. Thank you for all your leadership and best of luck with residency!
Youtube Videos (credit to Madelynn Zhang):
Short version
Full version
Awardees:
John Yuen, Stony Brook
Madeleine Wong, NYMC
Sai Mupparaju, Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Jonathan Weng, NYU
Laureen Chan, SUNY Downstate
Daniel Pham, University of Oklahoma
Brandon Yan, UCSF
Rodan Mecano, MSU COM
Nicole Ng, VCU
Onyoo Park, NYU
Attend the Future Physicians for Change Conference from June 15-17 in Phoenix, AZ!

If you go to one convention this year, it should be this one: Future Physicians for Change. This is a joint annual convention with AMSA, APAMSA, MSFC, and MS4SF, the first of its kind. This 3-day event from June 15-17, 2023 in Phoenix, AZ is wholly designed to empower, train and inspire us — tomorrow’s physicians — from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. You don’t want to miss this — and if you book before May 15, you get the lowest rate. Join us! Visit FP4Change.org for more information. SIGN UP FOR A SPOT TODAY HERE. #FP4Change