Hidden Gems in Medicine: A Fountain of Knowledge, Culture, and Care
Date: Saturday, September 19th, 2026
Location: University of Kansas School of Medicine (KUMC)
3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160
We are very excited to announce that the 2026 APAMSA Midwest Regional Conference will be held at University of Kansas School of Medicine! Hosted by APAMSA Midwest Region, all APAMSA members, pre-medical members, non-members, and interested students/faculty are welcome to attend this one-day event featuring a variety of AANHPI speakers, panels, workshops, networking opportunities, research presentations, and more!
Conference Information
Theme: Hidden Gems in Medicine: A Fountain of Knowledge, Culture, and Care
Date & Time: Saturday, September 19th, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM CT
Location: University of Kansas School of Medicine | 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160
Please note that this conference webpage is a work in progress. More information will be added as we get closer to the conference date!
Hidden Gems in Medicine: A Fountain of Knowledge, Culture, and Care
Known as the City of Fountains and in the heart of the Midwest, Kansas City is home to more than 200 fountains, each symbolizing the continuous flow of ideas and growth. Much like these fountains, medicine thrives when knowledge is shared, cultures are celebrated, and care extends beyond the clinic walls.
At this year’s Midwest Regional Conference, we invite you to discover the hidden gems that make both Kansas City and medicine as a profession brilliant. Together, we’ll explore new perspectives, strengthen our commitment to culturally responsive care, and uncover the unique experiences that shape us into compassionate future physicians.
Saturday, September 19th, 2026
Schedule
8:30 AM: Check-in, Registration, & Breakfast | HEB B102 & B104
9:00 AM: Introductions & Opening Statements | HEB B102 & B104
10:30 AM: Breakout Session A
OCA | HEB G210
Alumni Panel | HEB G205
Fountain of Life | HEB G109
Hands On | HEB G201
11:30 PM: Lunch, Research Session, and Networking | HEB B102 & B104
1:00 PM: Breakout Session B
Hella Good Deeds & Mental Health Alliance | HEB G109
AANHPI Cultural and Language Awareness | HEB G205
Frieda/Masonic Panel | HEB G210
Hands On | HEB G201
2:00 PM: Closing Remarks | HEB B102 & B104
3:00 PM: Wrap Up and Raffle Prizes | HEB B102 & B104
3:30 PM: Conference END
5:00 PM: Post-Conference Social & City Exploration | Location TBD
Venue Map
Keynote Speaker
How to View “Advantage” vs. “Disadvantage”: Discovering the Hidden Gems in Our Experiences
Dr. Weijing Sun, MD, FACP
Sprint Professor of Medical Oncology; Chief, Division of Medical Oncology; Associate Director, Cancer Center for Clinical Research
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Session 1 (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
Breakout A: Advocacy 101
Siddarth Sharma, MPH
VP of Membership, OCA Greater Washington DC Chapter
Pediatric Researcher, Pediatric Research Facility
Breakout B: Hidden Gems of Residency: Lessons From the Journey
Dr. Timothy Nguyen, DO
Allergy/Immunology Fellow
University of Kansas Medical Center
Dr. Crystal Nguyen, MD
Emergency Medicine Resident
University of Kansas Medical Center
Dr. Joanne Andrade, MD
Psychiatry Resident
University of Kansas Medical Center
Breakout C: Innovations in Healthcare Access & Mental Health for LEP Immigrants
Jennifer Alexander, MPA
Founder & Executive Director
Fountain of Life
Breakout D: Hidden Gems in Action: A Hands-On Clinical Skills Workshop
MS3 & MS4 Student Leadership
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Session 2 (1:00 PM – 2:00 PM)
Breakout A: Community, Connection & Mental Health: Building Wellness in AANHPI Communities
Béty Lê Shackelford, BFA
Founder & Executive Director
Hella Good Deeds
Jen Lympus, LCSW, LSCSW
Clinical Social Worker
Private Practice
Dr. Ngan Vuong, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Creative Inner Connection
Dr. Robin Li, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Private Practice
Breakout B: AANHPI Cultural and Language Awareness
APAMSA Leadership
Details TBD
Breakout C: Beyond the Clinic: Patient Navigation & Access to Care
Dr. Felicia Steger, PhD, RD
Assistant Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Pharmacology & Department of Dietetics and Nutrition; Director of Nutrition Research, KU Diabetes Institute; Scientific Director of Clinical Research, Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyle & Nutrition
University of Kansas Medical Center
Karin Denes-Collar, LSCSW
Associate Director & Psychosocial Services Director, Masonic Cancer Alliance
University of Kansas Cancer Center
Breakout D: Hidden Gems in Action: A Hands-On Clinical Skills Workshop
Speaker TBD
Details TBD
Closing Remarks
Dr. Paul Tran, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Phoenix Children’s Hospital; Assistant Professor, University of Arizona School of Medicine & Creighton University; Medical Educator
Directions to the Venue
Address: University of Kansas Medical Center Health Education Building (KUMC HEB) | 2146 W 39th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103
Locating Building Entrance:
- Located on the west corner of Rainbow Blvd and 39th Ave
- To get to the building from the parking lot (P4), take the garage elevator to the 5th floor and cross the bridge into Hemenway Building. Exit out of Hemenway and the building will be right there. (See the map on the right.)
- Signs will be posted for guidance.
Coming from MCI Airport:
- Uber/Lyft/taxi takes approximately 30 minutes.
- Public transportation in Kansas City is limited, with the bus taking around 2 hours to get to the campus.
Coming by Car from 1-35 South:
- Take Exit 1A Southwest Trafficway
- Keep straight, then turn right on Rainbow Blvd
- Turn right on Adams St for the P4 parking garage
- Total commute time is approximately 30 minutes from the airport.
Parking:
- P4 Parking Garage: Free access.
- Upon entry to the gate, tell the call machine operator that you are here for the APAMSA conference and they will raise the gate.
Accommodations:
- Hampton Inn & Suites Country Club Plaza | Hotel Block
- This Hotel Block option is now expired! Deadline to book was Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11:59pm CT
- $165 per night
- Rate includes WiFi and breakfast
- Parking is $20 per day
Campus Map
RideKC Streetcar:
- It is a free-to-ride trolley that runs up and down Main Street.
- From the Hampton, it is a 16 minute walk through the Country Club Plaza to get to the Plaza stop on Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. (See map below.)
- More information and route can be found on their website.
Abstract Submission
APAMSA Midwest Region invites you to submit an abstract for the Midwest Regional Conference on September 19th, 2026. There is no cost for submitting an abstract.
The deadline for Abstract Submissions has passed. Please consider submitting your abstract for the next year’s conference.
Research Award Winners will be announced during the Closing Ceremony on September 19th, 2026.
Research Prize Winners
| Award | Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Place | Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
| Second Place | Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
| Third Place | Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
Featured Abstracts and Accepted Posters
| Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
|---|---|---|
| Test Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
| Test Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
| Test Name | Institution | Abstract Title |
APAMSA National Board
Local Chapter Leadership
Norman Morikawa
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Contact Us
QUESTIONS? Email us at midwest@apamsa.org!