Official Statement

General Inquiries:
Daniel Pham
National Vice President of Advocacy
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
advocacy@apamsa.org

WASHINGTON – The House’s Energy and Commerce Committee passed the bipartisan South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act (“the Act”) on May 18th, 2022. APAMSA commends the progression of this important legislation. 

The Act, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), would create grants annually within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for actionable public health interventions ranging awareness initiatives, educational materials, and research catalogs targeted at the South Asian community. 

Additionally, the Act would authorize the National Institutes of Health to conduct or support heart health research among the South Asian population and establish a clearinghouse and web portal of information on heart health.

Cardiovascular disease is widely known to be the leading cause of death in the United States, yet this issue is even more pressing among South Asian Americans. South Asians around the world (people from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) bear a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and a higher mortality rate from ischemic heart disease than other populations. 

Importantly, Asian Americans have a lower ASCVD risk than other populations but only by disaggregating the data can it elucidate that the South Asian American population has a heightened risk of ASCVD. The increased prevalence of risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension in these communities is what drives this increased ASCVD burden in this population. The Act would provide grants for disaggregated research on ASCVD and related diseases for the South Asian American population.

APAMSA recognizes the importance of data disaggregation to further understand the unique challenges and public health burdens in our underserved communities, and this bill is a significant step in furthering that vision.

In the latest of a harrowing string of attacks, a Taiwanese church in Laguna Woods, California fell victim to a shooting on May 15th, 2022. Just the day before, Buffalo, New York suffered its own tragedy as a man shot and killed ten Black Americans at a grocery store, in what is currently being investigated as a hate crime. A few days prior to that, a shooting in the Koreatown of Dallas, Texas left three women wounded and is also being investigated as a hate crime.

We lament the fact that these horrifying events are but the latest of a recent string of violent acts, both against Asian Americans and otherwise. It is with heavy hearts that we find ourselves restating our opposition to gun violence so frequently. Yet we also take this opportunity to honor Dr. John Cheng, the 52-year-old AANHPI physician who had charged at the Laguna Woods shooter and, by his sacrifice, ensured that no one else died that day. He has demonstrated immense heroism and selflessness not only in the face of this crisis, but also throughout his faithful service to his community as a sports medicine doctor. We grieve for his wife and two children, just as we grieve for all of the families who lost loved ones over the preceding weeks.

Once more, National APAMSA offers its support to the local chapters and members of New York, California, and Texas during these frightening times, and we encourage you to reach out with any specific ways we can be of service.

On April 7th, 2022, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to the US Supreme Court as the first Black woman, the second woman of color, and the third Black Justice in its 232-year history. APAMSA celebrates this monumental moment as the next step in building an increasingly inclusive society with greater representation of people of color in positions of power. 

Supreme Court Justice Jackson is one of many stepping stones for all minority communities. This is especially true when the issues important to communities of color, including that of AANHPI communities, are being decided. In particular, we renew our call for increased representation in the positions of prominence within medicine and academia. The diversity of our doctors must continue to grow for the sake of our minority communities, and our leadership is even more wanting for proper representation. We find hope in the current progress and are eager to see the path continue toward a more inclusive, just, and equitable society.

On the morning of April 12th, 2022, a man opened fire on the passengers of a subway train in Brooklyn, New York and ultimately injured 17 people before fleeing the scene. We at APAMSA grieve for the victims and acknowledge the fear that now strikes many New Yorkers’ hearts. We continue to denounce gun violence and reaffirm our support for comprehensive gun reform that would promote the health and safety of our communities. National APAMSA offers its support to all local chapters and its members during these frightening times, and we encourage you to reach out with any specific ways we can be of service.

On February 22, 2022, Governor Greg Abbott defined “gender-affirming care” as “child abuse” under Texas Family Code Sec. 261.001(1)(A)-(D) and issued an order for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to investigate these instances of “child abuse.” This order effectively criminalizes any gender-affirming care, preventing families from seeking said care and licensed professionals from providing it. Although the Honorable Judge Amy Clark Meachum issued a temporary injunction to these investigations on March 11, families trying to keep their transgender and nonbinary children safe are already feeling the impact. Many say they have been encouraged to leave the state, but more than half of Americans cannot afford even a $1,000 emergency expense, much less an interstate move. Even if they have the means, parents should never be forced into a situation to decide between their child’s safety and uprooting the family from their community. 

Texas is one of several examples of recent anti-trans and anti-queer legislation denying individuals the right to exist in their authentic gender and sexual identity. Similar bills have been passed or are under consideration in Arizona, Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky, Utah, Alaska, Idaho, and New Hampshire. In Florida, the Parental Rights in Education Bill – better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill – seeks to outlaw all discussions on LGBTQIA+ content in kindergarten through third grade and restrict discussions in other grade levels to content deemed “appropriate.” It also requires educators to inform parents about LGBTQIA+ youth’s identities, “outing” the student even without their consent. This bill has passed in the Florida House (February 24) and Senate (March 8) and currently awaiting Governor DeSantis’ signature.

Last year, the Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA) released a statement of solidarity with the trans community and a call to action following anti-trans legislation in Arkansas and other states. Not even one year later, new anti-trans and anti-queer legislation continue to target a vulnerable population. Withholding or delaying gender-affirming care can lead to significant psychosocial distress and is not a neutral option. Nearly 1 in 5 LGBTQ youth and 1 in 3 trans or nonbinary youth attempt suicide in a given year, with discrimination – both individual and political – as a strong risk factor. 

In contrast, studies show that gender-affirming care can reduce emotional distress, improve their sense of well-being and reduce the risk of suicide. Numerous professional societies, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Endocrine Society, espouse the efficacy of gender-affirming care for trans youth and adults.

The effects of anti-trans and anti-queer legislation are also felt keenly in our AANHPI communities. The Trevor Project, a non-profit addressing suicide prevention in LGBTQ youth, alone cared for approximately 9,000 AAPI LGBTQ individuals in 2020. Compounded by cultural and religious stigmas against discussing sex and sexuality, AANHPI youth are significantly less likely to disclose their LGBTQIA+ identity to their parents than the youth of other racial/ethnic backgrounds. They are also much more likely to experience feelings of isolation in predominantly white LGBTQIA+ spaces. 

Because anti-trans and anti-queer legislation like those in Texas and Florida particularly harm LGBTQIA+ youth, including those of AANHPI identity, APAMSA stands firmly against these discriminatory bills. We also support in solidarity with the Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA) and the broader LGBTQIA+ community.

As part of APAMSA’s mission to promote the health of the AANHPI community, we urge our members to take action in support of our LGBTQIA+ friends, colleagues, and patients. At our institutions, we can advocate for education on gender-affirming care and increased recruitment and retention of trans and gender-diverse students and faculty. In research, we can investigate understudied issues at the intersection of AANHPI and LGBTQIA+ identities. On a policy level, we can push for local, regional, and federal policies that recognize trans rights as human rights. We must also acknowledge that the ongoing injustice and discrimination against trans and nonbinary individuals do not exist in a vacuum; it coincides with numerous attempts to restrict access to abortion care and discussion of race and racism in schools. 

APAMSA reaffirms its opposition to discriminatory policies that undermine the health of marginalized individuals in AANHPI communities and beyond.

In solidarity,

Your APAMSA National Board

In the early hours of February 13th, Christina Yuna Lee, a 35-year-old Korean American woman, was followed into her New York City Chinatown apartment and stabbed to death by a stranger. Last month, Michelle Alyssa Go, a 40-year-old Asian American woman, was pushed to her death while waiting for a southbound R train at Times Square (1). APAMSA grieves these recent tragedies and recognizes them as the latest in a painfully long list of attacks against Asian Americans even as they have not yet been officially charged as hate crimes (2).

Just as we have in our previous statement, APAMSA denounces these horrifying crimes and all such senseless acts of violence, regardless of their legal designations (3). Anti-Asian hate crimes have been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with New York City alone experiencing a 361% increase over this past year, leaving Asian Americans across the country fearful for their safety (4). APAMSA firmly and unequivocally opposes every racist act, and we call all our allies to stand in solidarity with the AANHPI community.

Comprehensive anti-racist policies that improve upon the reporting and prevention of all racist hate crimes must be implemented. We will continue to demand that our politicians and legislators acknowledge the tragedies of Lee and Go’s deaths, as well as their broader context of the pandemic of anti-Asian hate that persists.

APAMSA offers its support to all of its members during these difficult times. We have listed below several helpful resources for your reference, and we invite you to reach out with any specific ways we can further assist your chapters.

APAMSA Applauds Return of White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to Health and Human Services 

On December 9th, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the relaunch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Like other communities of color, AANHPI communities have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the exacerbation of long-standing health inequities, we have seen a spike in racist rhetoric, xenophobia, and violence. This public health crisis highlights issues our leaders must address: anti-Asian bias and violence, data disaggregation, the model minority myth, language barriers, and health equity. 

APAMSA applauds the Initiative’s return to HHS and the expansion of its name to explicitly include Native Hawaiians–a significant step in reinvigorating this historic endeavor. We look forward to seeing how the Biden-Harris Administration will address the vital concerns of everyone in our communities.

Current events in Afghanistan and the impending humanitarian crisis with the likelihood of increased number of displaced people

Facing crisis and emergency levels of needed humanitarian assistance, Afghanistan’s needs have risen sharply because of conflict and COVID-19. Since the end of May 2021, the number of people internally displaced because of conflict and in need of immediate humanitarian aid has increased by 550,000, adding to the already 3.5 million internally displaced people before this year (1).

As future medical professionals, we are deeply concerned about the people of Afghanistan and the threat posed to their rights, safety, and ability to access health care. We support the World Health Organization’s call to ensure access to health care during this turbulent time (2-3). 

Many members of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association are descendants of refugees that have fled past conflict, famine, and poverty. Southeast Asian refugees represent one of the largest refugee communities to resettle in the United States after being forcefully displaced by war and its aftermath in the 1970s. While there are differences regarding the context of what’s happening in Afghanistan vs. Southeast Asia, the desire to pursue safety and opportunity are shared between both groups regardless of time and place (4-7).

We urge our government to take swift action to ensure the safety of refugees, including but not limited to: keeping borders open to those fleeing from violence and persecution, permitting permanent resettlement in the United States, and ensuring refugees feel safe and supported by ending the ongoing deportations of all undocumented immigrants regardless of country of origin (8-9).

APAMSA has long supported providing culturally and linguistically relevant resources, including but not limited to financial assistance and mental health support. Government and nonprofit entities, especially those involved in healthcare, must commit to Afghanistan refugees for years to come.

Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on that fateful day. Let’s honor their memory by committing to being a country inclusive of diverse backgrounds committed toward building mutual respect and support that can resist hate and divisiveness in all of its forms.

On September 1, Texas law SB8 went into effect, outlawing virtually all abortions 1. By allowing third-party lawsuits against clinicians that provide abortions and restricting access to vital components of reproductive healthcare, SB8 creates a coercive environment for patients and clinicians. Additionally, it would escalate the financial and logistical barriers many abortion patients already have to confront regarding their care 2.

SD8 is an example of a “heartbeat bill 3.” In 2019, APAMSA opposed the passage of “heartbeat bills” in several states 4. We continue to oppose efforts to undermine patients’ ability to access a necessary component of their health care, recognizing that these discussions and decisions ought to remain at the discretion between patients and their health care providers without undue external interference.

SD8 will likely inspire attempts to pass similar restrictions in other states 5. APAMSA encourages its members to stay informed on local state laws, and to use accurate information from verified sources, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to guide their patients 6.

On August 29th, Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Gulf Coast. Its impact was particularly felt in Louisiana, making it the second most intense hurricane to hit the state after Hurricane Katrina of August 2005. More than a million people in Louisiana currently have no power. There have been reports of infrastructural damage and heavy flooding in coastal areas. This is more apparent within healthcare, as local hospitals’ capacities to admit victims of Hurricane Ida are being pushed to near full capacity from the ongoing COVID-19 surge.

As the storm progressed north, devastation has also been felt throughout the East Coast, particularly New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia. As of September 3rd, about 4.5 million people on the East Coast remain under flood warnings.

National APAMSA has been in contact with the local chapters to offer support to those impacted by the hurricane. In addition, we encourage everyone to support the local organizations in helping those affected. 

• Mutual Aid Louisiana https://www.gofundme.com/f/hurricane-ida-mutualaidlouisiana
• Imagine Water Works https://donorbox.org/imagine-water-works
• WC Kitchen https://donate.wck.org/give/355034/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=ida-homepage
• Cajun Navy Relief www.cajunnavyrelief.com
• Hands on New Orleans https://www.handsonneworleans.org/
• New Orleans Musician Clinic https://neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/
• Second Harvest Food Bank https://no-hunger.org/