UTHSCSA
APAMSA
ABOUT UTHSCSA APAMPSA
Dear Classmates and Future Colleagues,
Welcome to our website dedicated to UTHSCSA’s chapter of Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association. We invite to you browse these pages to learn more about our organization. As is written in our mission statement, we strive to bring awareness to health issues faced by the APIA community. San Antonio may not be your stereotypical “Asian hub”, but this makes it all the more critical to engage our peers in discussion about our diverse cultures and how to best treat Asian patients. In order to achieve our mission, we seek members of diverse backgrounds who bring unique perspectives to the table and are ready to learn about the challenges Asians face in a healthcare setting—all, of course, while having fun and networking.
We hope to see you at our events this coming year. Visit our website and check out our Facebook page to stay updated on all the fun things we have planned. Remember, APAMSA is Asian-interest, but not Asian-exclusive!
Sincerely,
Dawn Zhao
APAMSA, President
UTHSCSA SOM Class of 2017
Our Mission
The Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA) is a national organization of medical and pre-medical students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities. APAMSA serves as a forum for student leaders to engage these health issues and develop initiatives and projects addressing those needs. The local, regional, and national activities of APAMSA aim to promote the health of the APIA community and help healthcare workers understand how to care for APIA patients in a culturally sensitive manner. Finally, APAMSA provides an important venue for medical students to meet, exchange experiences, and develop personally and professionally through leadership and service.
Our History
APAMSA’s foundation was laid in 1993 by Asian American students worried about the present and future of the APA community. Dr. B Li co- founded the e-mail bulletin board ‘AAMSnet’ for Asian American medical students in 1994 and co-formed the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association in 1995.
APAMSA was formed because issues of APA health were largely ignored by existing organizations. Since its initial formation in 1995, APAMSA chapters have formed at schools across the country to improve the health and well-being of the APA community and promote understanding of the unique challenges Asian Pacific Americans face in medicine.