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The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), founded in 1995, is the largest medical organization in the USA 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. ^[1] 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. ^[2] 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), ^[3] A3M, and SAMAR. ^[4] In 2009, APAMSA also launched the 1000 CRANES for HOPE Campaign to register at least 1000 minorities onto the National Bone Marrow Registry. ^[5]

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. ^[6] 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. ^[7]

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

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Historical national presidents

References

External links

• Official website