Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month: A Celebration of Vibrant Cultures

AAPI Heritage Month is a time of education, reflection, and honoring the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in May and throughout the year. AAPI communities include all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. 

AAPI physicians have made, and continue to make outstanding contributions to the medical field. Katherine Luzuriaga, M.D., is a board certified Filipino American physician and pediatric immunologist. In 2013, Dr. Luzuriaga and her team developed a breakthrough scientific technique that “functionally cures” newborn babies of AIDS transmitted to them from their mother during birth.. 

Here in Oregon, Erik Szeto, D.O., is a physician and founder of the nonprofit organization Asian Health & Services Center (AHSC), established in 1983. AHSC works to bridge the gap between Asian and American cultures while reducing health inequity and improve heatlh care quality for all Asians. AHSC offers many services including providing arts and culture, meals, and healthcare to AAPI residents., . 

We also honor Ron Naito, M.D., a gifted and beloved physician, teacher, and philanthropist.  His legacy lives on through the Ronald W. Naito MD Foundation, which supports organizations working all over the world to mitigate the climate crisis, reduce health disparities, and build communities that are socially equitable and environmentally sustainable.

Boost Oregon honors and celebrates AAPI communities.  For more health resources for AAPI residents in Oregon, please check out Safe + Strong. 

Sources:

https://www.ahscpdx.org/wellnessgroups.html

https://asianpacificheritage.gov/about/

https://blog.abim.org/notable-asianpacific-american-physicians-in-u-s-history/