The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), founded in 1995, is the largest medical organization in the US representing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) medical and pre-medical students and physicians. APAMSA is a student-governed and national organization that promotes awareness and advocacy of issues affecting the AANHPI community. They have over 4,500 active medical students, pre-medical students, interns, medical residents, and practicing physicians.

APAMSA hosts an annual National Conference, annual National Hepatitis Conference, and multiple Regional Conferences. The 2023 National Conference was hosted at Oregon Health & Sciences University on March 3–5.

Currently, APAMSA has over 160 local chapters at different medical schools and college campuses in the United States.

Previous work

Disparities in Medical Education: In 2007, APAMSA conducted a national study to reveal racial and ethnic disparities in medical school grades during clinical years. The study demonstrated that minorities receive lower grades than white medical students. This study served to show the possibility that cultural factors may play a role in medical school grades during clinical years. In 2009, APAMSA followed up with a second study to examine medical student communication styles. The study concluded that there were differences in student communication styles and feedback based on demographic differences suggesting a need for cultural competency training for both medical student and teacher.

Bone Marrow Drive: During the Presidential Inaugural Committee's National Day of Service, APAMSA helped organize the Gift of Hope, Gift of Unity Marrow Drives in Washington DC and in California with Yul Kwon and the national bone marrow programs: NMDP, AADP (Asian American Donor Program), A3M, and SAMAR. In 2009, APAMSA also launched the 1000 CRANES for HOPE Campaign to register at least 1000 minorities onto the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Hepatitis B: Since 2006, APAMSA has contributed to help raise awareness about hepatitis B and liver disease in the APA community by Hepatitis B, APAMSA Fights to Break the Hepatitis B Cycle. This campaign brought together a national cross section of medical students and physicians dedicated to ending the epidemic of hepatitis B in APA community, and the launching of several local hepatitis B education and screening programs across the United States.

Japan Tsunami Relief: In 2011 in response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, APAMSA chapters throughout the United States raised a combined total of over $11,000 which was ultimately donated to aid the recovery effort in Japan. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine was recognized as the top fundraiser in the effort as they raised a total of $6508.32.

AllofUs Research Initiative: In 2018, APAMSA was chosen as one of only two national AANHPI-serving organization partners in the Asian Engagement and Recruitment Core (ARC) for the All of Us Research Program (AoURP). With the assistance of the ARC, students and community members were enrolled at local health fairs and community events to be a part of the program and increase AANHPI representation in the AoURP for future clinical trials and biomedical research.

Current National Initiatives Hepatitis B and C Initiative and Conference Community Outreach Initiative Bone Marrow Initiative Cancer Initiative Research Initiative Academic Education Initiative Professional Development and Leadership Initiative Premedical Students Initiative Diversity Initiatives (South Asian, Southeast Asian, LGBTQIA+, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Women in Medicine) Alumni Initiative Medical Education Initiative Health Policy and Advocacy Initiative

History APAMSA officially started in 1995 by Dr. B Li and his colleagues with the first National Conference after they were worried about the future of APA medical students and communities. Since then, APAMSA has grown to include many National Programs including the Hepatitis B education and immunization project and the Bone Marrow Donation project.

As an organization based on health care, APAMSA has also held a prominent role in speaking out for smoking and tobacco use targeting the Asian community, for irresponsible alcohol use, for immunization and for health standards addressing needs of the medically underserved. So far efforts have been met with great success as smoking and alcohol consumption, along with related chronic illnesses, have been on the rise in Asian youth since 2003.

National conferences Initially, National Conference was a one-day event, usually held on a Saturday. Occasionally, there has been expansion to 2–3 days with additional pre-conference activities the Friday afternoon/night before (Pre-Med Day, Anti-Racism Workshop) or the following Sunday (closed National Board transition orientation).

At the 26th National Conference (2019), the first "Alumni Day" was held with good turn out from local physicians and healthy discussion on how to best support the next generation of Asian American health professionals. In 2024, APAMSA will celebrate its 30th Annual National Conference.

Historical national conferences

#YearMonthTitleCityOrganized byWebsite42023MarRENEWAL : Out of the Flames, Into the FuturePortland, OROregon Health and Sciences Universityhttps://www.apamsa.org/nc2023/82022JanROOTS: Preserving Our History and Cultivating a Brighter FutureColumbus, OHThe Ohio State Universityhttps://www.apamsa-nc2022.org/272021JanAgents of CHΔNGE: Celebrating Resilience, Addressing Inequities, and Marching ForwardVirtualUCSFhttps://www.2021apamsaconference.org/262019OctThe Land of Opportunity: Breaking the Barriers in APIA HealthcareNew YorkNew York University, Touro COM NYhttps://www.2019conference.apamsa.org/252018OctThe Plurality of OthersSt LouisWashU, SLU2018conference.apamsa.org242017OctCaring for CommunitiesLos AngelesUCLA2017conference.apamsa.org232016OctPromoting Wellness from WithinChicagoRush, Pritzker2016conference.apamsa.org222015SepIntersections in HealthcareIrvineUCI2015conference.apamsa.org212014SepRemedies for DisparitiesLas VegasTouro Nevada2014conference.apamsa.org202013OctBreaking the Silence in APIA HealthNew YorkColumbia, Einstein, Sinai2013conference.apamsa.org192012SepConnect the Dots, Make Your Mark: An Interdisciplinary Approach to MedicineAnn ArborUMichhttp://www.apamsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/APAMSA-Program.pdf182011OctPrescription for Change: Act NowStanfordStanford172010OctNavigating Medicine's Next FrontierBaltimoreHopkins, UMaryland162009OctTransforming Medicine: A Challenge for Future LeadersLos AngelesUCLA, Western, USC152008OctBuilding ONE CommunityPhiladelphiaUPenn142007OctBridging Cultures, Taking ActionSan FranciscoUCSF, Stanford132006OctMedicine: A Call to ServiceWashington DCUniformed Services UHS122005OctBuilding Bridges: Linking Past, Present, and FutureChicagoNorthwestern112004OctLeading by ExampleHoustonUT Houston, Baylor, UTHSC San Antonio102003NovChanging the Face of MedicineWashington DCGeorgetown, GWU, Hopkins92002OctOur Culture, Our HealthSt LouisWashU, UMKC82001OctForging into the Next Millennium: Commitment to API ServiceNew YorkNYU, Einstein72000OctAncient Traditions, New FrontiersLos AngelesUSC, Stanford61999Nov?San FranciscoUC Davis51998Nov?ChicagoNorthwestern, UIC, Finch, Pritzker41997Oct?ColumbusOSU31996OctAPA Leaders: Forging Ties for a Stronger TomorrowBostonHarvard21995OctStrength Through UnityPhiladelphiaMCPH, Temple, Jefferson, UPenn11995Jan(1st National Conference) Reflections on Self and CommunityNew YorkColumbia, Cornell, Einstein, SUNY Brooklyn, Mt Sinai, NYU1995JanNational APAMSA incorporatedNew YorkColumbia, Cornell, Einstein, SUNY Brooklyn, Mt Sinai, NYU1994OctAAMSNet launchesColumbusOSU1994OctWhite House Briefing on Health Care ReformWashington DCDelegates from Harvard, Tufts, NYU1994OctA New VoiceBostonHarvard1994AprAsian American Caucus at AMSAWashington DCCWRU, Stanford1993OctAsian American Family Health: Needs and NetworksColumbusOSU1993OctBreaking the SilenceBostonHarvard1993AprAsian American Caucus at AMSAMiamiWI (?)1993JanA Call for Community InvolvementNew YorkNYU

Historical national presidents Academic YearPresident2024–2025Victoria Shi (UMKC)2023–2024Joyce Lee (MCW)2022–2023Donna Tran (MSU CHM/Hopkins)2021–2022Donna Tran (MSU CHM/Hopkins)2019–2021Yingfei Wu (MCW/Hopkins), Interim President Donna Tran (MSU CHM/Hopkins)2018–2019Yingfei Wu (MCW/Hopkins)2017–2018Ruey Hu (Vanderbilt/Hopkins), Interim Leader Yingfei Wu (MCW/Hopkins)2016–2017Ruey Hu (Vanderbilt/Hopkins)2015–2016Kevin Riutzel (Touro Nevada COM)2014–2015Kevin Riutzel (Touro Nevada COM)2013–2014Kevin Riutzel (Touro Nevada COM)2012–2013Tracy Wang (Hopkins)2011–2012Jason Chen (Vanderbilt)2010–2011Lynne Chang (UCLA), now Lynne Wu2009–2010Sam Li (UT Houston)2008–2009Shelly Choo (Hopkins)2007–2008Grace Wang (Hopkins)2006–2007Kathy Lee (WashU)2005–2006Kathy Lee (WashU)2004–2005Rishi Agrawal (UT Houston)2003–2004Lisa Tseng (UCLA)2002–2003Celeste Chu (Wash U St Louis)2001–2002Sunny Ramchandani (Yale/Harvard)2001Vivienne Hau (Univ of Arizona)2000–2001Chris Tsai (Columbia)1999–2000Bena Teo (UIC)1998-1999Albert Hsu (Einstein)1997-1998David Wong (OSU)1996-1997Sean Wu (Duke)1995-1996Lawrence Cheung (Columbia)1995Anu Gupta (Yale)

References

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