In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, many racial injustices were brought to light, particularly within the Asian community. During this time, the UNE campus as a whole was given an opportunity to speak about such occurrences and how these events impacted morale. Through this event, it was made clear that while a select few students were able to share their opinions, there was no platform in which students of Asian American descent could share their thoughts and seek guidance or leadership in a connected, communal space. Thus Nida Rit, Kevin Huang, and Briana Cheng have started the Asian American Student Physician Association (AASPA) in hopes that students, no matter their background, would be able to learn, advocate, and fight for representation of Asian American student physicians, and their communities, within medicine.
Moving forward, the goal is to educate students on how to best advocate for not only patients, but also peers that may be of a different background. There are many different aspects of Asian American culture and very little discussion on how to approach these within our medical practice. This year, AASPA’s hopes are to introduce the cultural aspects and related healthcare topics to address them in a way that benefits students as well as future patients. Collaborative events, such as the Diversity Gala, are opportunities in which the club hopes to introduce the fun traditions of Asian cultures, with a small taste of traditional music, dance, and a variety of different foods. Educational speakers have also been invited to instruct students in ethical and cultural obstacles we may face in the medical field, and how we can best approach them.
A mentorship program, as suggested by our founding faculty advisor, Dr. Kin S. Ly, is also in the works as Asian American alumni and physicians within the community are being gathered to help guide and facilitate education in the budding doctors of UNE. Through this program, students will have access to leadership role models and resources in which to feel a sense of camaraderie. Overall, the AASPA hopes to encourage the COMmunity in learning how to better serve patients of any background, starting one culture at a time.
Founding AASPA members, second-year srudents Nida Rit, Kevin Huang, and Briana Cheng, with their advisor, Dr. Kin Ly