May 2026: AANHPI Heritage Month
May 2026: AANHPI Heritage Month
In celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, APAMSA honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of AANHPI communities—past, present, and future—and their impact in medicine. Join us as we celebrate the past, present, and future of AANHPI culture and its intersections with health and medicine.
To our local chapters: we encourage you to deepen your community impact this month! Additional funding for AANHPI-focused outreach is available all month.
Apply here!
May 1, 2026
Rooted in Hawaiʻi’s rich cultural history, Lei Day began in 1928 as a celebration of aloha, a day to honor connection, kindness, and community through the giving of lei. What started as a simple idea grew into a lasting tradition that reflects the beauty of relationships woven with intention and care. Celebrate the spirit of Lei Day with us by reflecting on the connections that shape your journey in medicine and beyond. From our APAMSA ʻohana to yours, we wish you a joyful and meaningful Lei Day!
May 7, 2026
Dr. Bright Zhou’s talk, “The Activated Asian American,” is a timely conversation on advocacy vs. activism, identity, and how medicine can support collective healing in our communities. Dr. Zhou is an attending at USC FMR, whose journey into medicine began in archaeology, excavating ancient sites around the world. Today, they bring that same curiosity to patient care: centering storytelling, advancing culturally reflective medicine, and advocating for linguistically and culturally inclusive healthcare.
Dr. Bright Zhou, MD, MS
Family Medicine, USC
Day: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time: 1 PM PT (4 PM ET)
In-person: USC Keck School of Medicine, Mayer Auditorium
Virtual option available
May 13, 2026
Asian Americans experience some of the highest rates of mental distress, yet they remain among the least likely to seek support. Stigma, cultural taboos, and the model minority myth continue to create systemic barriers that prevent many from accessing the care they need. It is time to break the silence and confront this crisis directly. Please join APAMSA for a virtual program hosted through the Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health, in partnership with the United Chinese Association WAVES (Wellness, Advocacy, Voices, Education, Support). We are honored to welcome Dr. Lily Chen, who will lead an important discussion on “Silent War: The AAPI Youth Mental Health Crisis.” Join us for an essential conversation as we listen, learn, and work toward a future where AANHPI youth mental health is no longer overlooked.
Dr. Lily Chen
Founder & Executive Director of UCA WAVES
Day: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 4 PM PT (7 PM ET)
May 15, 2026
National APAMSA honors the legacy of AANHPI physician advocates who have shaped medicine, challenged inequities, and uplifted communities, often against the odds. From breaking barriers in training to leading movements for health equity, their work reminds us that representation isn’t just about presence, it’s also about impact.
Their voices have advanced culturally responsive care, expanded access for underserved populations, and redefined what it means to be a physician-leader. Because of them, future generations don’t just enter medicine, they belong in it.
As we celebrate their contributions, we also recognize the responsibility we carry forward: to advocate, to serve, and to continue building a more equitable healthcare system for all.
May 20, 2026
Stay tuned on Instagram for more!
May 29, 2026
APAMSA is proud to collaborate with Dr. Krysti Vo, dual board-certified psychiatrist, for a meaningful conversation exploring identity, belonging, and mental health within the AANHPI community and medical training spaces. Together, we’ll discuss how cultural identity, community expectations, and lived experiences shape mental health journeys for students and future physicians, while highlighting the importance of advocacy, representation, and culturally informed support systems. Join us for an engaging dialogue centered on healing, connection, and empowering the next generation of AANHPI healthcare leaders.
Dr. Krysti Vo
Dual Board-Certified Psychiatrist
Day: Friday, May 29, 2026
Time: 3 PM PT (6 PM ET)
May 24-30, 2026
Close out AANHPI Heritage Month with APAMSA’s nationwide Fundraising Week, taking place May 24–May 30. Follow along on Instagram as our National Board members lead fundraising efforts through their stories, highlighting the impact of our work and the communities we serve. Every donation directly supports student-led community health initiatives, expands outreach, and empowers future physicians to address critical health disparities.
Statement on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act
On March 17, 2026, the U.S. Senate began discussions on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which aims to address allegations of widespread voter fraud and election integrity by introducing more stringent requirements for personal identification and proof of citizenship. However, this may impose additional barriers by shifting the burden of proving eligibility to the individual voter, potentially reducing civic participation.
What changes are proposed?
The SAVE Act requires:
- Proof of U.S. citizenship using a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization certificate for voter registration
- A government-issued photo identification for requesting and submitting mail-in ballots
- States to verify voter eligibility through federal databases in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security
How could this affect you?
- Roughly half of U.S. citizens do not have a passport, meaning they may need to rely on a birth certificate for voter registration
- REAL IDs in many states do not indicate citizenship, making them insufficient for verification without additional proof of citizenship
- About 80% of women in heterosexual marriages take their partner’s last name, complicating their ability to register without proof of legal name change
- Stricter registration requirements could reduce the accessibility of voter registration through online and in-person voter registration drives
- Potential changes in status (e.g., name changes, naturalization, moving to other states) could lead to ballots being flagged during federal verification, and in some cases, not counted
- The financial burden to acquire the documents necessary to register to vote may create barriers for those facing financial strain
- To vote by mail, voters may need to send a copy of their ID to request a ballot, and another copy when they submit their ballot
Why does this matter?
National APAMSA strongly condemns this bill due to its potential to create barriers to civic participation and equitable access to voting. These changes may disproportionately impact communities with limited access to documentation, including naturalized citizens and historically marginalized populations. In alignment with our policy compendium and as mentioned in previous statements, National APAMSA recognizes that access to voting is a critical social determinant of health, with direct implications for both individual and community well-being.
What can you do?
We urge you to contact your local senator to express your opposition to the SAVE Act. Resources such as 5 Calls and When We All Vote can help you find and reach your elected officials.
For questions regarding this statement, please contact the Rapid Response Director, Pehr Williamson at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
April 2026: Bootcamp Series
April 2026: Bootcamp Series
Each bootcamp is a two-hour workshop led by residents and early-career attendings offering high-yield information to help with preparations for sub-internships and intern year. Many high-yield topics are also relevant to third-year medical students preparing for clerkships, making our Bootcamp Series valuable for a broad range of learners across the country (and even internationally).
April 4th, 2026
Kevin Hon, DO
Assistant Program Director
St. Barnabas Health
Rahul Kathard, MD
PGY-3
Temple University
Rodan Mecano, DO
PGY-3
William Beaumont University Hospital
Nguyen Lu, MD
Chief Resident
Boston Medical Center
Monette Veral, MD
Attending
UCLA
Katrina Alcantara, MD
PGY-1
UCI
Estelle Green, MD
PGY-2
Boston Children's Hospital
Jennifer Lin, MD
PGY-3
Weill Cornell Medicine
Joyce Lee, MD
PGY-2
UCLA
Athena Dong, MD
PGY-2
USC
Allison Zhong, MD
PGY-4
Mass General Brigham
April 9th, 2026
Christopher Wan, MD
PGY-1
Mount Sinai/ Morningside West
Poojajeet Khaira, MD
PGY-4
Case Western Reserve University-MetroHealth
Mary Shen, MD
PGY-4
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
April 11th, 2026
Nance Yuan, MD
Plastic Surgery
Attending
Private Practice
Arlene Zhou, DO
General Surgery
PGY-5
HUMC
Victoria Cegielski, MD
Ophthalmology
PGY-2
OHSU Casey Eye Institute
Frank Qian, MD, MPH
Cardiovascular Medicine Fellow
Boston Medical Center
Yoojin Kim, MD
Cardiovascular Disease Fellow
Duke University
Tej Ganti, MD
Attending
Indiana Regional Medical Center
Connie Lu, MD
Complex Planning Fellow
UIC
Cecilia Gambala, MD
MFM Attending
Tulane
April 12th, 2026
Jennifer Huang, MD, MEd
Attending
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
John Lu, MD
Attending
Private Practice
Dora Chen, MD
PGY-4
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Connie Ju, MD
Attending
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
April 18th, 2026
Suzanna Tom, MD
PGY-2
Temple Chestnut Hill
Cindy Jiao, MD
Attending
University of Rochester
Hiu Ying Joanna Choi, MD
Attending
Temple University
April 19th, 2026
Anke Wang, MD
Critical Care Fellow
Duke University
William Hsu, MD
Critical Care Attending
Albany Medical Center
Chelsea Wu, MD
Medicine Attending
Baylor Medicine
Ramya Sampath, MD
PGY-3
Yale School of Medicine
Mingqian Lin, MD
PGY-2
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
Spenser Chen, MD
PGY-3
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Tiffany Hu, MD
Geriatrics Fellow
Yale School of Medicine
Alumni of the Year Award 2026
This award honors her enthusiastic participation in the APAMSA Alumni Advisory Board, commitment to AANHPI research, and dedication to mentoring APAMSA students.
Lindy Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Oncology and Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. She is a child of immigrants and the first in her family to pursue a post-bachelor’s degree. Dr. Zhang completed her medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine with distinction in clinical research and her pediatrics residency at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. She then pursued a pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship at the combined Johns Hopkins-National Cancer Institute program. During her fellowship, she received additional translational research training by completing a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on NF1-associated tumors and the application of molecularly targeted therapies. Her academic interest is to define the interactions between molecularly targeted agents and the tumor immune microenvironment in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) and establish the potential role of immune-based therapies in novel therapeutic combinations. In addition, Dr. Zhang is passionate about diversity and inclusion in academic medicine. Her medical education research focuses on Asian American representation and experiences of microaggression and discrimination in medical school.
To read more about the APAMSA Alumni of the Year Award, click here.
Questions? Please reach out to strategy@apamsa.org.
