APAMSA Policy Compendium
If APAMSA is missing a resolution on an important area of AANHPI-related health policy, please reach out to our Resolutions Director at organizedmed@apamsa.org.
Last Updated: 03/2026
10.000 Health System Reform
10.001 Defending Access to Affordable Health Care
1) APAMSA recognizes that increased access, quality, and affordability should be the guiding principles of any move to reform health care; 2) APAMSA supports actions that increase the number of insured AANHPI’s, expand essential health benefits, and improve the quality and affordability of health care; 3) APAMSA opposes actions that make health care less accessible and less affordable for AANHPI communities. (Res 3, A-18)
10.002 Calling for Disaggregation of AAPI Health Outcomes Data
1) APAMSA advocate for federal/state legislation and other efforts by organizations and public agencies to disaggregate data regarding health outcomes and representation in medicine of multiple ethnic groups of the Asian American and Pacific Islander umbrella. (Res 3, B-18)
10.003 Promoting Access to Linguistic and Culturally Relevant Health Care
1) APAMSA supports efforts by medical schools and academic hospitals to emphasize to students and residents that good clinical practice requires the provision of culturally and linguistically relevant health care; 2) APAMSA support efforts to make all health resources and services available in as many languages as is clinically necessary, and to create a culture that encourages clinicians to provide equitable care to LEP patients; 3) APAMSA supports increased funding towards efforts and innovative practices that alleviate cultural and language barriers to health care. (Res 4, B-18)
10.004 Addressing the Lack of AAPI Health Outcomes Data
1) APAMSA supports the inclusion of Asian American patients in clinical trials; 2) APAMSA opposes actions by federal agencies that result in obscuring of AANHPI data or discouragement of AANHPI participation in surveys and Census questionnaires to the extent that they may ultimately harm AANHPI health.
10.005 Reaffirming that Vaccinations are a Public Health Advancement
1) APAMSA supports efforts by public officials to increase vaccinations; 2) APAMSA will strongly advocate for vaccinations for the public and support legislative limits on exemptions from vaccinations.
10.006 Support of a Single-Payer Universal Health Care System
1) APAMSA recognizes that a single payer universal health care system would grant coverage to all AANHPI’s, as well as improve access, quality, and accessibility of health care for all AANHPI’s; 2) APAMSA supports the implementation of a single payer universal health care system in the United States; 3) APAMSA supports intermediate actions that would facilitate a transition to a single payer universal health care system without increasing the number of uninsured or underinsured AANHPI’s.
10.007 Protecting the Rights of Health Care Students Living With Hepatitis B
1) 1) APAMSA encourages health professions schools to develop ADA-compliant anti-discrimination policies based on disability that explicitly include and provide reasonable accommodations for persons with hepatitis B; 2) APAMSA supports efforts at health professions schools to educate faculty, staff, and students about hepatitis B and the rights and protections of individuals with disabilities under the ADA; 3) APAMSA encourages chapters to refer impacted and interested individuals to resources such as the Hepatitis B Foundation helpline or the Department of Justice; 4) APAMSA requests that health professions schools monitor and track instances of discrimination against students with hepatitis B so that appropriate action may be taken to address and prevent such incidents from occurring; 5) APAMSA supports efforts by its chapters to collaborate with professional organizations and advocacy groups in advocating for the rights of individuals with hepatitis B.
10.008 Promoting Gender and Sexuality Equity in Medicine and Healthcare
1) APAMSA recognizes and denounces discrimination against SGM populations at the individual, interpersonal, and structural level; 2) APAMSA encourages medical professionals to adopt a sexuality- and gender-affirming approach to patient care that respects intersectional identities; 3) APAMSA encourages medical professionals to advocate for SGM patients in the face of challenges and barriers to health care when encountered; 4) APAMSA advises medical institutions to acknowledge and act on the importance of educating medical students on SGM topics and care to better equip future physicians and address current inequities affecting the SGM community; 5) APAMSA advises medical institutions to implement gender-affirming practices and nondiscrimination policies wherever applicable; 6) APAMSA advocates for legislation and policies, and supports organizations and public health agencies that aim to promote health equity and well-being of SGM populations.
10.009 Addressing Weight Stigma and Weight Discrimination in Medicine and Healthcare
1) APAMSA denounces weight stigma and discrimination in medicine and healthcare, recognizing it as a barrier to providing high-quality and egalitarian care, and thus leading to poorer health outcomes; 2) APAMSA supports advancing research on the impact of weight stigma on health outcomes, particularly among AANHPI populations; 3) APAMSA upholds a weight-inclusive approach to patient care and endorses medical training that improves provider attitudes and empathy toward higher BMI patients; 4) APAMSA promotes adopting medical equipment that are usable by patients of all sizes and ensuring that specialized instruments for higher BMI patients are readily available; 5) APAMSA further supports deeper investigation into how bodily factors like weight affect public perceptions of Asian Americans and the intersectionality of weight, gender, and race.
10.010 Defending Access to Abortion Services
1) APAMSA recognizes the access to safe, voluntary, high quality, and affordable abortion services as a fundamental aspect of health care, to which all people have a right, and thereby recognizes the right of all people to have access to the aforementioned abortion services in a safe and secure environment; 2) APAMSA opposes further local, state, and federal legislative attempts to restrict abortion services, as well as other family planning services such as contraception; 3) APAMSA advocates for legislative changes to protect this right and thereby to ensure the health of all communities; 4) APAMSA advocates for the safety and protections of abortion care providers such as physicians, midwives, nurses, doulas, and more, and condemns the threats and acts of violence against said providers.
1) APAMSA supports the development of anti-discrimination and anti- harassment policies for healthcare organizations (including but not limited to departments, hospitals, and clinics); 2) APAMSA supports community-led research initiatives assessing the success and effectiveness of anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and implementation protocol; 3) APAMSA promotes increased reporting and meaningful organizational response to reporting; 4) APAMSA offers support and work to provide resources for AANHPI healthcare workers reporting instances of racism and harassment in the workplace.
10.012 Addressing Environmental Sustainability in Anesthetic Practice
1) APAMSA supports efforts by public health officials and hospital administrators to minimize anesthetic contributions to global warming without sacrificing quality of care, and be it further; 2) APAMSA will strongly advocate for improved operating room design, use of regional IV anesthetic techniques over gases when applicable, and waste minimization and disposal practice where appropriate with regards to environmental sustainability, and be it; 3) APAMSA advocates for the safety and well-being of the communities that will be disproportionately impacted by the global health crises brought about by increased temperatures worldwide.
10.013 Advancing Women’s Health Equity & Inclusion in Research
1) APAMSA encourages all chapters to work closely with research programs in schools to support female researchers and ensure accurate inclusion of biological sex as a variable in research studies; and be it further; 2)APAMSA will collaborate with American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) and other concerned organizations on national initiatives aimed
at the recruitment of female students into research and medicine; and be it further; 3) APAMSA advocate for legislation and policies that support organizations, partners, and public health agencies promoting research and health equity for women; and be it further; 4)APAMSA support efforts to make mentorship, sponsorship, and resources for research fundings and involvement more accessible for female researchers, to create a culture of support for women in science.
10.014 Insurance Coverage of Adaptive Sports Equipment
1) APAMSA recognizes the crucial role of adaptive sports in improving health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with disabilities 2) APAMSA advocates for insurance companies to acknowledge adaptive sports equipment as a medically necessary intervention that promotes physical and mental well-being and prevents secondary health conditions 3) APAMSA follows up on legislative initiatives at the local and state levels and calls for new legislative initiatives at a federal level that mandate insurance coverage for adaptive sports equipment and programs 4) APAMSA partners with nationwide organizations such as the Challenged Athletes Foundation as well as local programs such as the Central California Adaptive Sports Center to raise awareness and support funding initiatives 5) APAMSA advocates for immediate action to ensure equitable access to adaptive sports to meet the growing number of individuals with disabilities, particularly children, to support their health, development, and well-being through inclusive physical activity 6) APAMSA brings awareness to the physical, social, and long-term benefits of adaptive sports by sharing and highlighting personal stories from participants and caregivers, emphasizing the significant impact on health, well-being, and community engagement.
20.000 Immigration
20.001 Protecting Undocumented Patients at Student-Run Clinics and Teaching Hospitals
1) APAMSA recognizes fears of detention and deportation as significant deterrents for immigrant families seeking health care; 2) APAMSA supports efforts by chapters to educate student-run clinics about the rights and options of undocumented immigrants seeking care; 3) APAMSA encourages initiatives to distribute language-appropriate printouts at student health clinics that express APAMSA’s support of undocumented immigrants’ rights and access to healthcare, and also directs them to resources such as pro bono legal help; 4) APAMSA encourages efforts to recruit specialists to offer pro-bono help at these clinics, including services such as post-surgical rehabilitation; 5) APAMSA opposes the presence of ICE at teaching hospitals and medical school rotation sites; 6) APAMSA supports legislation and policy designating healthcare facilities as sensitive locations where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions cannot occur. (Res 1, A-18)
20.002 Supporting Refugee and Migrant Health and Safety
1) APAMSA encourages efforts by chapters to promote and advocate for the health and safety of refugees and migrants; 2) APAMSA oppose any actions or policies that involve separation of immigrant children from their families; 3) APAMSA support greater public oversight of living conditions within public and private detention facilities to ensure they meet the standards set by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. (Res 1, B-18)
20.003 Supporting Health Care Access for Undocumented Immigrants
APAMSA supports efforts by public officials to make health coverage more accessible to undocumented individuals, including measures to expand Medicaid and other public health plans to income-eligible individuals regardless of immigration status.
20.004 AANHPI and SEA Refugee Deportations
1) APAMSA acknowledges the intricate history of SEA immigration to the United States and the unique struggles that SEA Americans face, leading to increased healthcare disparities in the population; 2) APAMSA defends the 4th and 15th Amendment Rights of SEA immigrants to be afforded due process; 3) APAMSA assists the SEA American community in addressing socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological circumstances that contribute to the perpetuation of the crime to deportation pipeline within the SEA American population; 4) APAMSA supports legislative efforts that aim to protect against deportation for SEA immigrants.
30.000 Mental Health
30.001 Increasing Mental Health Resources and Fighting Stigma
1) APAMSA supports increased mental health resources at undergraduate and medical schools; 2) APAMSA supports efforts at undergraduate and medical schools to promote awareness of mental health resources and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness; 3) APAMSA supports legislation that increases access to culturally and linguistically relevant mental health care. (Res 2, A-18)
1) APAMSA continues to recognize and denounce racial discrimination at the individual, interpersonal, and structural level; 2) APAMSA continues to support increased vigilance investigating and resolving microaggressions and discrimination at undergraduate and medical schools; 3) APAMSA encourages academic and medical institutions to actively promote a positive racial environment, respecting every individual’s cultures, cultural practices, and cultural events; 4) APAMSA advises academic and medical institutions to recognize and denounce any racial microaggressions on the individual, cultural, or institutional level; 5) APAMSA encourages academic and medical institutions to raise awareness and take collective action to identify implicit bias, power, privilege differentials, and systemic racism inherent within academic medicine and our own lived experiences; 6) APAMSA supports legislation and policies that expand or continue protections against racial discrimination; 7) APAMSA supports legislation that increases access to culturally and linguistically relevant mental health care, particularly in the face of racial discrimination.
40.000 Racial Disparities
40.001 Advocating for Recognition of Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders as URM
1) APAMSA will reach out to scholarship programs, pipeline programs, and other programs aimed at or catered to URM students and urge them to be inclusive of Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander students in all communications promoting their programs; 2) APAMSA will ask AAMC and AACOM to release a statement calling on medical schools to consider including Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander students in outreach and admissions efforts intended to increase student body diversity.
40.002 Improving Campus Diversity Initiatives
1) APAMSA believes the core mission of all campus diversity committees and initiatives should include a) active recruitment of URM students and b) curriculum reform efforts aimed at equipping students with the tools to address structural barriers to health care; 2) APAMSA encourages all chapters to work closely with diversity programs at their schools in pursuit of the above two goals through activities that include (but are not limited to) active involvement in the admissions process, calls for positive change to university policies, and periodic evaluation of their university’s fulfillment of specific, measurable diversity objectives; 3) APAMSA will collaborate with AMA-MSS, the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS), and other concerned organizations on national initiatives aimed at the recruitment of URM students into medicine.
40.003 Defending Race-Conscious Admissions in Undergraduate Medical Education
1) APAMSA recognizes that increased enrollment of students from communities that are historically underrepresented in medicine is beneficial and necessary for improving patient care; 2) APAMSA supports the use of race-conscious recruitment, admission, and retention practices by medical schools in the pursuit of a diverse and inclusive student population; 3) APAMSA opposes legislation and efforts that would dissolve or otherwise deter medical schools from employing race-conscious admissions policy to promote a diverse and inclusive student population.
40.004 Against Racism in Medicine
1) APAMSA opposes all forms of racism both in medicine and in society at large; 2) APAMSA actively promotes an antiracist culture, including but not limited to a) rejecting all race-based medicine & science (e.g. race-based adjustments in eGFR and pulmonary function tests) and affirming that racism, not race, is a risk factor, b) supporting the creation of organized student anti-racism coalitions, including collaboration with other minority-based student organizations to address these issues within education, research, and clinical practices, and c) supporting institutional funding and creation of offices, staff, and spaces dedicated specifically to the needs of underrepresented groups in medicine.
40.005 Denouncing Housing Discrimination of AANHPI
1) APAMSA supports further research on the impact of housing discrimination on health and health inequities in AANHPI communities; 2) APAMSA denounces AANHPI housing discrimination in all its forms, and supports legislation and national fair housing policies that address persistent patterns of discrimination and inequity that negatively impact AANHPI health.
40.006 Denouncing Gun Violence and Supporting Gun Reform
1) APAMSA denounces gun violence, recognizing it as a imminent and preventable public health crisis which requires comprehensive public health and legislative response and solutions; 2) APAMSA supports a) federal and state research on firearm-related injuries and deaths; b) increased funding for and the use of state and national firearms injury databases to inform health policy; and c) legislative action for sensible gun laws that include, but are not limited to, promoting adequate oversight of firearms and ammunition, banning assault-type weapons, supporting gun buyback programs, mandatory training and licensing, and safe and secure firearm storage.
40.007 Redefining AAPI/APIA as AANHPI
1) APAMSA will henceforth use “AANHPI” in all future initiatives, published materials, and communications when referring to communities it represents, 2) APAMSA will release a statement encouraging U.S. medical schools and relevant stakeholders to acknowledge the unique history and cultural obstacles faced by Native Hawaiian communities; 3) APAMSA supports further research on the impact of discrimination and historical injustices on health outcomes and health inequities in the Native Hawaiian population.
40.008 Rectifying the Inequitable and Racist Effects of “The Flexner Report”
1) APAMSA will (a) acknowledge the harm created and sustained by the adoption of “The Flexner Report” and (b) work with appropriate stakeholders to create, distribute, and promote curricular materials that educate about this history; 2) APAMSA will advocate for the commissioning of a new comprehensive study to evaluate medical education in the United States, incorporating standards on antiracism, health equity, and justice training as well as other interventions preparing medical trainees to care for an increasingly diverse patient population; 3) APAMSA will advocate for the creation of HBCU-affiliated medical schools and support funding efforts for currently existing and future HBCU-affiliated medical schools, with the goal of achieving a physician workforce that is proportional to the general population in terms of race and ethnicity; 4) APAMSA will work with appropriate stakeholders to increase the number of scholarships, loan repayment programs, and other relevant measures to minimize the financial burden of medical training for Black medical students and other groups underrepresented in medicine; 5) APAMSA will advocate for studying the possibility of including antiracism competency as a part of graduation requirements for LCME- and COCA-accredited medical schools as well as ACGME-accredited residency programs.
40.009 Recognizing Cultural Trauma as a Source of Health Disparities
1) APAMSA supports the recognition of cultural trauma as a cause of health disparities; 2) APAMSA encourages culturally-sensitive trauma-informed care that acknowledges and integrates an individual’s cultural beliefs, values, and practices; 3) APAMSA promotes cultural awareness, responsiveness, and understanding to prevent cultural trauma, eliminate disparities, and advance health equity for all groups.
1) APAMSA advocates for federal legislation that promotes health equity within US-Affiliated Pacific Islands, including but not limited to Medicaid parity and the continued funding of federal safety net programs like disaster relief and health services; 2) APAMSA supports political equality and representation of U.S. territories; 3) APAMSA affirms its support for the health and well-being of individuals living in the US-API, especially in consideration of its large AANHPI population.
1) APAMSA calls attention to the dramatic rise in anti-Asian hate in the context of COVID-related political rhetoric that has exacerbated bias, discrimination, and hate against people of Asian descent; 2) APAMSA recognizes the disparities in health outcomes experienced by AANHPI communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to a disproportionately mortality burden among NHPIs and high case fatality rates and excess mortality among Asian Americans compared to the overall population and white Americans; 3) APAMSA advocates for public health policy and initiatives that advance our understanding of AANHPI health disparities and contribute to the mitigation of such disparities with respect to not only COVID-19 but also future pandemics and other disease burdens facing AANHPI communities; 4) APAMSA reaffirms its call for the inclusion of AANHPIs in all health data collection and reporting by race and ethnicity, and further that this data be disaggregated by AANHPI subgroups to the furthest extent possible; 5) APAMSA acknowledges disparities in disease burden facing all people of color and seeks to work in allyship towards advancing shared goals in ameliorating health disparities.
40.012 Support of Incarcerated AANHPI Health
1) APAMSA will support efforts to increase data collection and research regarding incarcerated AANHPI experiences 2) APAMSA recognizes incarcerated individuals as a key demographic within AANHPI communities that face unique health disparities; 3) APAMSA advocates for the safe evacuation of incarcerated individuals who are at risk of facing natural disasters and epidemics 4) APAMSA advocates for incarcerated individuals to have access to quality healthcare and their medical needs met.
40.013 Opposition to the Use of Capital Punishment
1) APAMSA affirms the Fifth Amendment right that no person shall be deprived of life without due process of law; 2) APAMSA recognizes the racial bias of the justice system and the arbitrary nature of capital punishment sentencing; 3) APAMSA supports all efforts to enact more equitable policies towards crime; 4) APAMSA advocates for a fair and just criminal justice system with criminal justice reforms; 5) APAMSA condemns the continued implementation and sentencing of capital punishment.
1) APAMSA recognizes online gambling as a public health concern; 2) APAMSA supports further research into understanding gambling behaviors, risk factors, and health impacts among AANHPI populations; 3) APAMSA collaborates with relevant stakeholders and supports the development of evidence-based policies, safeguards, or strategies that mitigate gambling-related harms among vulnerable AANHPI populations.
50.000 Medical Education
50.001 Reducing Drug Industry Influence on Continuing Medical Education
1) APAMSA recognizes that CME that is free from industry sponsorship will increase rational prescribing, reduce commercial bias in medical education, and protect patients from unnecessary and potentially harmful drugs; 2) APAMSA encourages the attendance of “pharma-free CME” which requires that a) no speakers and committees involved have industry ties or payments and b) no monetary or non-monetary industry contributions are used to support the CME; 3) APAMSA supports alternatives to industry sponsorship to keep CME low-cost and objective for participating healthcare providers.
50.002 Increasing Skin Tone Representation in Dermatology
APAMSA supports the equitable representation of darker skin tones in dermatologic medical education, including but not limited to didactic materials and practice-based learning.
50.003 Increasing Access to Type II Diabetes Education, Awareness, and Prevention in AANHPI
1) APAMSA support efforts at medical schools and clinical settings to promote type 2 diabetes awareness, education, and health advocacy in AANHPI; 2) APAMSA supports integration of culturally informed type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment within medical education curriculum and clinical guidelines; 3) APAMSA support research efforts on type 2 diabetes prevalence and clinical presentations in AANHPI.
50.004 APAMSA Support and Advocacy for Osteopathic Medical Students
1) APAMSA will support representation of Osteopathic Students and Physicians through collaborating with Osteopathic Organizations and national policy organizations to ensure representation of AANHPI osteopathic physicians, students, and residents; and be it Further; 2) APAMSA will encourage awareness of the benefits of evidence-based Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine for musculoskeletal conditions in order to further patient and allopathic physician understanding of osteopathic medicine; 3) APAMSA will release a statement supporting the Fair Access in Residency (FAIR) Act H.R. 751, ensuring Medicare-funded GME programs allow participation of DOs. This bill will affirm that residency programs do accept both osteopathic and allopathic students and that the COMLEX and USMLE are equally accepted.
50.005 Standardization of LGBTQIA+ Health in Medical Curriculum
1) APAMSA recognizes the need for inclusion of LGBTQIA+ healthcare topics in medical education 2) APAMSA develops resources and programming through its LGBTQIA+ director and committee, to educate medical students on inclusive and respectful language for LGBTQIA+ patients in clinical settings 3) APAMSA advocate for the development of standardized educational resources on LGBTQIA+ health for medical students and continuing medical education of healthcare professionals 4) APAMSA encourages medical institutions to incorporate LGBTQIA+ health into their core curriculum 5) APAMSA oppose efforts to remove LGBTQIA+ content in undergraduate and graduate level medical education 6) APAMSA recognizes that all physicians, regardless of specialty, should be trained in the fundamentals of LGBTQIA+ health 7) APAMSA advocates for policies and legislation that support the implementation of LGBTQIA+ health content in medical education 8) APAMSA opposes anti-LGBTQIA+ efforts at the national, state, and local level.
50.006 Responsible Implementation and Training of Artificial Intelligence
1) APAMSA advocates for inclusion of equitable representation of AANHPI populations in the training and validation of augmented intelligence datasets, supports the disaggregation of AANHPI data into specific ethnic subgroups, and the transparent reporting of dataset demographics and subgroup-specific model performance for equitable outcomes; 2) APAMSA supports the implementation of diversity and fairness audits in healthcare AI systems, including the evaluation of algorithmic accuracy across all racial, ethnic, and linguistic subgroups; 3) APAMSA promotes collaboration between clinicians, data scientists, public health experts, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure AI model development effectively and equitably incorporates social determinants of health and is guided by clinical context; 4) APAMSA advocates for the integration of education on algorithmic bias, cultural competence in data collection, and ethical use of AI in medicine into medical education curricula and training programs to prepare future physicians for responsible and equitable use of AI in clinical practice, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the ACGME, AAMC, and AACOM.
60.000 Civil Engagement
60.001 Increasing Voting Access in AANHPI Communities
1) APAMSA supports legislation promoting standardized and expanded voting methods, including but not limited to universal voter registration, increased polling locations, mail-in voting, and expanded early voting periods; 2) APAMSA advocates for legislation that mandates comprehensive, culturally and linguistically-appropriate voter education and election materials for all voting populations; 3) APAMSA encourages its national, regional, and local chapter leadership and members to advocate for legislative efforts that enfranchise all communities, with a particular focus on the unique needs of AANHPI populations.
Response to Executive Order to Eliminate the Department of Education
On March 20, 2025, President Donald J.Trump signed a new executive order directing the Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to pursue the closure of the Department of Education (ED). The ED distributes over $1.6 trillion in federal loans and financial aid for students, enforces civil right laws such as Title VI and Title IX, funds public school budgets, and gathers education statistics. The executive order also directs the Education Department to restrict any federally funded programs or activities under the label of “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI),” reinforcing previous executive orders aimed at rolling back DEI initiatives.
Given that over 70% of medical students take out loans, especially utilizing federal loan programs like the Direct Unsubsidized Loan or Graduate Plus loans, the closure of the ED will jeopardize these loan programs and loan repayment programs that have been a cornerstone reducing medical education debt.
National APAMSA condemns this policy directive that will undermine student education funding and diminish the protections against racism and discrimination in schools and colleges across the nation. As mentioned in our previous statements and in our official policy compendium, APAMSA continues to advocate and work with policymakers and professional organizations to protect efforts to increase diversity and equity in medical education.
We urge Congress to oppose any bills aimed at formalizing the elimination of the ED and to commit to the protection of the department and countless other diversity programs. Please contact your local Congressional representative to express your support to maintain the Department of Education.
For questions about this statement, please reach out to Brian Leung at rapidresponse@apamsa.org. For local support, please contact your regional director.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Brian Leung at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
Response to Government Censorship of LGBTQIA+ Health
On January 20th, as part of President Donald J. Trump’s day-one executive orders, the Office of Personnel Management directed federal agencies to eliminate “gender ideology” from employee resource groups and grants and replace the term “gender” with “sex” on government forms. As a result, vital public health information and data have been erased from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, including HIV testing information, the Social Vulnerability Index, contraceptive eligibility guidelines, the largest adolescent behavioral health monitoring program, multiple resources addressing health disparities among LGBTQIA+ communities, and more.
National APAMSA denounces the draconian censorship of science, public health, and medicine in federal policy to further disenfranchise marginalized communities. Regardless of federal mandates, we will continue to advocate for the dissemination of evidence-based, culturally competent care and support initiatives that combat health disparities among sexual and gender minorities. We affirm that gender-affirming care is life-saving care, as discussed in our previous statements and policy compendium, and affirmed in the stances of the World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American Academy of Family Physicians.
We urge all healthcare professionals to adhere to the evidence-based clinical recommendations and guidelines that have ensured quality care for all communities. We urge institutions to support their employees and patients by continuing to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in their resources and programs. Lastly, we urge community leaders and policy makers to prioritize the health of the public and act against censorship of medical terminology and public health institutions.
To our colleagues in medicine, we stand with you and fight alongside you. We affirm that diversity is what makes our communities strong.
To our patients, please know that there is an overwhelming majority of healthcare workers that will fight to provide the highest level of care possible. Please continue to share your stories and seek the care you deserve. It is our highest honor and privilege to care for you and your loved ones.
“It is in collectivities that we find reservoirs of hope and optimism.”
― Angela Y. Davis, Freedom Is a Constant Struggle
For questions about this statement, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org. For local support, please contact your region director. To get more involved with National APAMSA’s diversity initiatives, please visit www.apamsa.org/diversity or contact Sandra Kumwong at diversity@apamsa.org.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
National APAMSA Statement on President Trump’s Day One Executive Orders
On Monday, January 20th, President Donald J. Trump issued a slew of executive orders disrupting public health and safety, including actions related to health care, Covid-19 and emergency preparedness, diversity, equity, and inclusion, LGBTQ+ protections, immigration, climate change, reproductive rights, and the death penalty.
National APAMSA condemns these overwhelmingly unconstitutional policies aimed at disempowering marginalized communities. As discussed in previous statements and our policy compendium, we will continue to uphold health care reform; protection of migrants, refugees, and undocumented immigrants; and advocacy in favor of dismantling racial, ethnic, and gender disparities.
While these recent events may be discouraging, we encourage our community to practice resilience, center optimism, and remain energized. In memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. this week, we offer a reminder: “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
We urge community leaders, lawmakers, and judicial systems to challenge these executive actions and fight for justice, equity, and inclusion for all. Find and contact your representatives in Congress by visiting www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
For questions about this statement, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org. For local support, please contact your region director.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
Response to Police Assault of Lich Vu
On October 27, 2024, 71-year-old Lich Vu was brutally assaulted by police during an arrest in Oklahoma City, which resulted in severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Body camera footage released by the Oklahoma City Police Department reveals a language barrier between the officer and Vu, who is Vietnamese and speaks English as a second language. The incident brings to light dual issues of police brutality and increased violence against Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in the wake of COVID-19.
National APAMSA strongly condemns the assault on Lich Vu and reaffirms our stance against police brutality and violence against AANHPI communities, as discussed in previous statements. Police violence is not only a criminal justice issue, it is also a public health crisis. The immediate physical harm inflicted in such incidents is accompanied by long-term psychological and emotional consequences, not only for the individuals directly affected but also for their families and communities. For elderly individuals like Vu, these effects are compounded by the vulnerability that comes with age and the challenges many immigrants face in navigating systems that often fail to protect them.
The health of our communities is deeply intertwined with how institutions like law enforcement uphold—or undermine—public safety and trust. Yet, these harms are preventable, and addressing them requires systemic change. Accountability must be pursued at every level to ensure justice and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Our thoughts are with Lich Vu and his loved ones as they recover from this traumatic event. We continue to urge community leaders, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to take decisive action to ensure accountability and enact reforms that prioritize the safety and dignity of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable among us.
Written by Hugo Zhou and Nataliyah Tahir.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
A prescription from the next generation of doctors: Vote early
As future medical professionals, we see the real-life consequences of political decisions in emergency rooms, hospitals, and clinics. Despite a growing recognition that voting is directly linked to better health outcomes, however, health professionals are voting at lower rates than the national average. It’s time that we make a change this election.
We see patients denied essential services due to bureaucratic hurdles, such as insurance coverage gaps for life-saving medications or underfunded social and mental health service programs. As medical students and leaders of health in our communities, we have a responsibility to vote—not just for ourselves but for the people we serve.
The American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes voting as a social determinant of health. Communities with higher voter turnout often experience better health outcomes, yet many health care providers, including medical students, face challenges in turning out to vote. Busy schedules, unexpected emergencies, and the demands of our profession can create real barriers. We must break this cycle, and the remedy is early voting. By casting our ballots ahead of time, we can ensure that our voices are heard to better the health of our communities and patients.
Many of us have celebrated our family members finally gaining citizenship, only to see them struggle within a health care system full of obstacles. These are not isolated incidents; they reflect the broader experiences of disinvested communities whose voice at the ballot box can have a meaningful impact. The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities face the brunt of harmful anti-immigrant narratives, echoing xenophobic sentiments that have long afflicted our communities that contribute to social isolation and negative health outcomes.
Yet, AANHPI advocacy has a rich history in the United States—from Japanese American activist Yuri Kochiyama, who fought for civil rights alongside Black leaders, to Native Hawaiian scholar Haunani-Kay Trask, who advocated for Indigenous sovereignty. In honoring their legacies, we recognize that voting is one of the most powerful tools we have to shape healthier communities and, in turn, a healthier democracy.
At the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), the largest student organization of AANHPI medical students and pre-medical students, we’ve made civic engagement a priority this year. Partnering with the non-partisan, non-profit organization Vot-ER we’ve implemented training among our over 4,000 members and participated in programs to help medical professionals get ready to vote and help their patients to vote. Today, we are calling on medical students and professionals, particularly within the AANHPI community and beyond, to close our voter turnout gap by voting early.
Health is always on the ballot, and this election provides a critical opportunity to create a health care system that works for everyone. By voting early, we take an essential first step toward realizing that vision of healthier and more equitable communities. Our role as future physicians extends beyond the clinic walls. During this election season, we must show up—not just for ourselves, but also for our patients and communities. Let’s ensure that our voices are heard by voting early in this and every election.
Make your early voting plan today.
Alexander Le, Annie Yao, and Victoria Shi are medical students.
Find the original posted OpEd here.
Ask Internal Medicine Physician Dr. Marcus Iwane
The Leadership Committee proudly presents Dr. Marcus Iwane, an internal medicine physician dedicated to cultural health and Hawaiian communities. With a deep understanding of the intersection between medicine and heritage, Dr. Iwane is dedicated to ensuring that future generations continue to thrive while honoring their roots. His other passions include fishing, farming, and traveling!
Join us October 3rd for an exclusive Ask Me Anything session where Dr. Iwane will share his insights on health, culture, and the importance of community care. Don’t miss it!
Zoom Meeting ID: 952 5920 8549
Region VIII Conference
APAMSA Region VIII and the UCI APAMSA chapter are ecstatic to invite you to the annual Region VIII Conference hosted at the University of California, Irvine in Irvine. We are excited to host this event, celebrate all backgrounds, and uplift AANHPI communities through our conference “Turning the Tide.” Our theme highlights the shift in narrative towards unity, commemorating diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and acceptance of all. Through this conference, we hope to uphold this goal by hosting influential speakers in the AANHPI sphere, facilitating pre-medical and resident/attending panels, and featuring the research contributions of APAMSA members.
Statement on the Apalachee High School Shooting
On Wednesday, September 4th, 2024, those at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, witnessed a shooting that took the lives of four individuals and injured nine more. This is the 385th mass shooting and the 45th school shooting of the year in the country.
APAMSA remains staunchly opposed to gun violence (Resolution 40.006) and demands stricter gun control, and yet again emphatically states that there is a need for gun reform and control to prevent such acts from occurring. Underaged individuals, especially those with a history of threatening a mass shooting, should not be able to obtain assault weapons. We urge legislators to keep this pressing issue in mind as the 2024 election draws closer, to prioritize their commitment to such reform, and to listen to the voices of their grieving constituents.
We mourn with the nation for the lives lost and interrupted by this tragedy. We offer our support to those affected and we encourage you to reach out if there are specific ways in which we can assist you.
For local support, please contact the Region 4 directors at region4@apamsa.org.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org
National APAMSA Condemns Violent Suppression of Student Protests on College Campuses
On April 18th, 2024, the New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested over 100 peaceful student protestors at Columbia University’s “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” in response to orders by university President Nemat Minouche Shafik. The arrests have ignited a nationwide movement of college students setting up similar encampments to protest US support for Israeli military action in Gaza and to call for divestment of school endowments from corporations that profit from war.
Alarmingly, however, college administrators have continued to escalate against peaceful student protests with violent police suppression, disproportionate disciplinary action, and undue censorship. Administrator-ordered police intervention on several campuses has led to more than 800 arrests of students nationally, with many police officers using excessive force. At the University of Texas at Austin, Governor Greg Abbott called on state troopers clad in riot gear to stop peaceful student demonstrations, while at Emory University police officers and state troopers reportedly used pepper spray, rubber bullets and tear gas on students, tased attendees, and wrestled faculty to the ground. Since November 2023, administrators have employed multiple intimidation tactics to censor pro-Palestinian voices, including suspending students to facilitate police arrests, banning student chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and even terminating physicians-in-training from residency programs.
National APAMSA condemns the brutal crackdown on academic freedom and free speech on college campuses across the country. We support statements made by organizations such as Asian Texans for Justice, Rise AAPI, Emgage Action, Stop AAPI Hate, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Human Rights Watch (HRW). As a national medical student organization whose mission is rooted in principles of health advocacy, we stand in solidarity with all students exercising their constitutional right to free speech to advocate for human rights. As stated in a previous statement, National APAMSA unequivocally upholds the value of human life everywhere. We remain committed in our demand for a sustained humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza in light of the thousands of innocent lives lost, numerous attacks on healthcare workers and facilities, and restricted access to humanitarian aid.
We call on college administrators to resist political pressures to censor student voices and instead uphold academic freedom––encouraging students to engage in civil discourse on campuses without fear of punitive and disproportionate punishment. Removing peaceful protests using police violence under the guise of improving campus safety further endangers students and creates hostile learning environments. Reiterating previous statements, we likewise continue to condemn accounts of anti-Palestinian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia reported amid the protests.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to Nataliyah Tahir at rapidresponse@apamsa.org