APAICS Health Summit

The APAICS Health Summit brings together non-profit and corporate leaders, subject matter experts, and local and federally elected officials for bipartisan policy discussions that affect the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community and the nation at-large. Panel topics include the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, the frontline healthcare workers who are disproportionately affected, health disparities, advances in medical technology & treatments, the importance of data disaggregation in the medical field, and discussions of the future of health.

Opening plenary: Asian American Pacific Islander State of Healthcare (9:30 AM ET – 11:00 AM ET)

The APAICS Health Summit brings together nonprofit and corporate leaders, subject matter experts, and elected officials for a bipartisan policy discussion about the current state of healthcare. One of the biggest threats to the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AAPI’s have faced racism and discrimination, even though the community is on the frontlines battling the pandemic across the United States. This summit will highlight parts of healthcare where AAPIs are underrepresented and how as a nation there can be more inclusion. Experts from across America will join in this conversation and help to uncover the biggest challenges AAPIs face, not only in the current state of healthcare but in the next phases of this global pandemic.

Panel #1: Diversity and Equity in the Healthcare Industry Workforce (11:30 AM ET  – 12:30 PM ET)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the healthcare sector are critically important for providing the best care possible and fostering innovation. The AAPI community has faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even while facing discrimination and racism, AAPI medical professionals have never stopped providing the best possible care to all patients. This panel will discuss what the healthcare industry is doing to elevate AAPIs and other minority groups into the industry’s top echelons and approaches to providing equitable and accessible healthcare for all.

Panel #2: Data Disaggregation (1:00 PM ET – 2:00 PM ET)

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how critical data can be to save lives. The Asian American Pacific Islander community is built by numerous cultures and ethnicities just like so many other minority groups. Disaggregating data within the community can help healthcare providers, researchers, and consumers through the pandemic, by better identifying any gaps in the system. This panel will highlight why data is the key to ensuring that the issues facing all AAPIs are addressed.

Panel #3: Health Equity and Digital Health during COVID (2:30 PM ET – 3:30 PM ET)

The United States’ lack of access rate to healthcare is alarmingly high, and women of color are particularly vulnerable. AAPIs specifically face additional challenges including cultural and logistical barriers, as well as hurdles based on immigration or economic status, and geographic location. Healthcare equity is the goal. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a space for new innovative ways to reach every single patient. From telehealth to remote monitoring to cloud computing, technology will transform the healthcare industry. This panel will discuss the new technological advancements and how they can be leveraged to connect with the most vulnerable AAPI populations. This panel will highlight historic factors that have led to the present-day impact on healthcare and will provide policy solutions on how AAPIs can overcome the systematic lack of equitable healthcare access.

Closing plenary: The Next Phase of COVID: Vaccinations and Healing (4:00 PM ET – 5:30 PM ET)

During 2020, the world learned about the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. Industries, people, and governments all needed to embrace a new temporary normal and adapt quickly. Heading into 2021, globally the first steps to recovery have been taken but so many are still left out of receiving aid. In healthcare, alone Asian American Pacific Islanders need to be part of the foundational building blocks for vaccine innovation and distribution. This closing panel will highlight the phase we are currently in and how the community can be included to ensure that no one is left behind.