About Us

APAMSA @ UCSF seeks to be a cornerstone in the conversation about Asian-American identity and physicianship, and what it means to understand and address the needs of both the Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and all communities of color. As AANHPI health professionals, we challenge and examine the responsibilities we have towards advocating for and promoting the health of our own communities, while also educating ourselves on the role we play in the broader fight against racial injustice. APAMSA seeks to celebrate our diverse cultures while also working in solidarity and building relationships with other POC organizations on campus (SMNA, LMSA, WC4BL) and locally. We aim to build a soulful, loving community that highlights our unique collective experiences, and provide a space to discuss and explore these meaningful topics. 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. APAMSA's foundation was laid in 1993 by Asian American students worried about the present and future of the APIA 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 APIA 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 APIA community and promote understanding of the unique challenges Asian Pacific Americans face in medicine.