June 2026: Pride Month
June 2026: Pride Month
From our APAMSA family to you: Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈✨
The intersection of being queer, Asian, and in medicine can carry layers of identity, resilience, generational complexity, and joy. This month, we’re celebrating and uplifting queer Asian voices in medicine by centering identity, visibility, and community across healthcare and medical education. We are here, and we matter!
We are launching the Queer Asian Health Equity Series, a programming series held throughout the year dedicated to exploring the intersections of queer Asian identity and health equity in medicine. Our first event in the series is the Queer Asian Voices in Medicine panel, featuring physicians and medical students discussing how their queer and Asian identities shape their journeys, professional development, and approaches to patient care.
A national needs assessment will be launched to better understand and advocate for queer Asian pre-medical and medical students. We want to hear from you!
We will also issue a call to queer Asian physicians to connect queer Asian pre-medical and medical students with mentorship opportunities.
Finally, we will launch our national “Queer Asian Stories in Medicine” digital storytelling project, open to submissions from all, highlighting lived experiences throughout the year.
Together, these initiatives aim to empower the next generation of queer Asian leaders in medicine. While these efforts begin in June in recognition of Pride Month, they will continue throughout the year to support ongoing celebration, visibility, and community-building. We encourage you to participate and engage with these efforts throughout the year.
June 3, 2026
We are launching the Queer Asian Health Equity Series, a programming series that will be held throughout the year dedicated to exploring the intersections of queer Asian identity and health equity in medicine.
Our first event in the series is the Queer Asian Voices in Medicine panel, featuring physicians and medical students discussing how their queer and Asian identities have shaped their journeys in medicine and approaches to patient care and leadership in healthcare. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with other queer Asians in medicine and engage in meaningful conversation and community-building.



Dr. Elaine Hsiang, Stanford Emergency Medicine Fellow
James Chua, APAMSA President, MS3
Audrey Lam, APAMSA LGBTQIA+ Director, MS3
Day: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Time: 5 PM PT (8 PM ET)
June 8, 2026
This Pride Month, National APAMSA’s LGBTQIA+ Committee is highlighting Queer Asian Voices in Medicine, a year-long initiative inviting queer Asians in medicine and healthcare to share their stories and experiences.
We want to hear from you! Visit the link below to submit your story. The form will remain open year-round, but please submit by June 22nd to be featured during Pride Month.
June 15, 2026
National APAMSA’s LGBTQIA+ Committee is conducting this needs assessment to better understand the experiences, needs, interests, and priorities of queer Asian pre-medical and medical students. The goal of this survey is to guide future programming, educational content, advocacy efforts, mentorship opportunities, and community-building initiatives that are meaningful, inclusive, and representative of our members.
We want to hear from you! Visit the link below to complete the survey. Responses will be reviewed on a rolling monthly basis, but we encourage early submissions. Your responses are anonymous unless you choose to provide contact information.
Estimated completion time: 5-10 minutes
June 22, 2026
This Pride Month, National APAMSA’s LGBTQIA+ Committee is launching a Queer Asian Physician Mentorship Project to help queer Asian pre-health and medical students connect with physicians and trainees across specialties.
This directory is designed to support conversations around medicine, identity, career development, and community. Visit the link below to view the mentor list.
Response to ICSD Shooting
On May 18, 2026, a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego claimed the lives of three members of the mosque community and left others traumatized in the aftermath of this act of hate-based violence. We mourn the lives lost and extend our deepest support to the victims, their families, and the broader Muslim community affected by this tragedy.
National APAMSA strongly condemns Islamophobia, hate-driven extremism, and all forms of violence targeting religious and marginalized communities. Consistent with our previous statements and APAMSA policy compendium, National APAMSA recognizes gun violence as a preventable public health crisis and urges legislators to implement stronger gun safety measures. Places of worship should remain spaces of safety, healing, and community, not fear. We also recognize the courage and heroism displayed by those who acted to protect others during the attack.
As an organization committed to health equity and advocacy, APAMSA stands in solidarity with Muslim communities in San Diego and across the nation. We remain committed to supporting communities impacted by hate, violence, and discrimination, and to advocating for a safer and more compassionate future for all.
Resources
- Islamic Center of San Diego Community Support Fund
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- Donations will support victims, families, and community recovery efforts following the shooting
- bit.ly/supportICSD
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- National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
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- Call or text 988 for immediate confidential support
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- Disaster Distress Helpline
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- 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746
- Immediate emotional support after traumatic events
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- Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
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- https://ca.cair.com/community-resources/
- Community advocacy, reporting resources, and support for those affected by anti-Muslim discrimination and violence
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- Asian Mental Health Collective
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- https://www.asianmhc.org/
- Therapist directory and mental health resources for AANHPI communities
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- APAMSA Mental Health Initiative
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- https://www.apamsa.org/mental-health-initiative/
- APAMSA Resource list
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For questions regarding this statement, please contact the Rapid Response Director, Pehr Williamson at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
Ethan Minh Nguyen, Sponsorship Committee Member

Network Director
Ethan Minh Nguyen is an incoming fourth-year (MS-2) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine in their six-year BA/MD program. Ethan was born and raised in Las Vegas, where he found his passions for minority, rural, and global health advocacy. He joined APAMSA in his first year at UMKC and has since served as the Chapter Junior Publicity Chair (2024-2025) and Co-President (2025-2026).
Ethan is an aspiring Otolaryngologist, where he hopes to work in improving hearing care access across the globe. He currently serves on the executive board with organizations such as Remote Area Medical, Global OHNS Initiative, Global Surgery Student Alliance, and Global Medical Brigades.
Outside of school, Ethan runs a successful vintage wholesale business (@thriftbohue) that curates clothing for vendors across Kansas City and Las Vegas. He is an avid collector of old t-shirts and sweatshirts. He also enjoys rock climbing, updating his Beli, and finding new genres of music.
Jude Nathaniel Saarenas, Sponsorship Committee Member

Network Director
Jude Nathaniel Saarenas is a fourth year pre-medical student at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Born in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, he immigrated to the U.S. at a young age, now living in Phoenix, Arizona. He is majoring in Physiology & Medical Sciences with minors in Biochemistry and Asian Pacific American Studies. Outside of classes, he also volunteers with a rehabilitation program for the elderly and works as a STEM tutor on campus. He fell in love with APAMSA being Treasurer Intern and later serving as Treasurer for UA Pre-Health APAMSA his sophomore year. His favorite memories included traveling for the annual national conference as well as participating in the Big-Little program. His passion lies in giving back to the AANHPI community, which he aims to integrate into his future medical career. Beyond his studies, he is interested in trying out new restaurants, picking up a good book, and dancing in K-pop covers!
Allison Peng, Sponsorship Committee Member

Network Director
Allison Peng is a first-year medical student at the Yale School of Medicine. She is originally from the Bay Area, CA and studied Neuroscience at UCLA. Through past partnerships, she’s worked with Taiwanese-American and AANHPI communities to advance community-centered care, with a focus on cardiovascular health and nutrition education. She’s excited about neurology and radiology, with a focus on improving stroke diagnosis and treatment. Outside of school, she enjoys developing cafe drink recipes, attending live music events, and exploring the local food scene.
Christin Tran, HEAL Summit Committee Member

Network Director
Christin Tran is a second-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado. She is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and her parents immigrated from Bac Lieu, Vietnam. Christin completed her B.S. in Chemistry at Georgia State University. She enjoys the intersection between the sciences and taking care of others, especially her roots with the Asian American population. She hopes to become an anesthesiologist and continue to integrate compassionate and cultural care as a future physician.
William Gao, HEAL Summit Committee Member

Network Director
William Gao is a first year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine in Colorado. He was born in San Diego, CA, and completed his B.A. in Biochemistry at Whittier College. He worked at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla prior to matriculating at RVU, where he serves as treasurer for APAMSA’s local chapter. He has an interest in pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism and mechanisms, and intends to pursue a career in anesthesiology after completing medical school.
Winston Nguyen, HEAL Summit Committee Member

Network Director
Winston Nguyen is currently a second-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was born in Augusta, Georgia, and later attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned his B.S. in Exercise Science with a minor in Business Administration. During his gap years before medical school, he worked as an orthopedic medical assistant with Prisma Health and as an Educator at Lululemon. He also volunteered at a free clinic and with Crisis Text Line, where he gained meaningful experiences supporting patients and individuals both within medicine and beyond.
In his undergraduate studies, Winston was involved with his local Vietnamese Student Association chapter, where he developed a deeper appreciation for cultural identity, community outreach, and creating spaces for connection. In medical school, he continues to carry these values through his role as Inclusive Excellence Officer on the Class Council for the Class of 2029, as well as through his involvement in APAMSA and other student organizations. He is currently interested in emergency, orthopedics, OB/GYN, and family/sports medicine. He is also passionate about working with marginalized communities who have historically been underserved, underrepresented, and impacted by barriers to equitable health care in his future practice.
Outside of medicine he is a big foodie, music enthusiast, and traveler. He likes trying new things, exploring new places, and experiencing different food, cultures, and perspectives.
Jacqueline (Jackie) Nguyen, HEAL Summit Committee Member

Network Director
Jackie Nguyen is a first year medical student at Rocky Vista University. She was born in Hayward, California and later moved to San Diego to attend UC San Diego, where she received her B.S. in human health psychology. During her time at UCSD, she worked as a research assistant in the Cherqui lab studying Alzheimer’s disease, volunteered at Palomar hospital as an intern, and was on the executive board for the Vietnamese Student Association for 3 years. Following her time at UCSD, she worked as a case manager and medical assistant at Bruce Hubbard MD, a psychiatry practice specializing in transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment for severe depression and anxiety. Outside of academics and work, she enjoys baking, trying out new cuisines, reading, journaling, and gardening. She hopes to pursue a career in psychiatry, advocating for underserved and minority populations to hopefully help destigmatize mental health services, especially within the AANHPI communities.



