In May, we celebrate Asian Pacific and Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month. This blog is dedicated to uplifting the history, cultures, experiences, and identities of APIDA and acknowledging their contributions to healthcare and medicine.
Who makes up the APIDA community?
The APIDA community encompasses identities and cultures with origins in countries on the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands. This is a diverse community of people in the U.S., including but not limited to Americans of Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Sri Lankan origin.
APIDA Heritage Month is in May to commemorate two important historical events—the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks for the railroad were immigrants of Chinese descent.
The term “Asian American” was first introduced in 1968 by student civil rights activists Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee. During the Civil Rights Movement, this name became a unifying political identity for the Asian people which helped the community amplify their voices while standing up to racism and inequality in the United States.
The racist and antiquated term “oriental” was banished and as a result, Asian American Civil Rights Activism shifted from Asian Americans fighting for their right to be Americans to fighting for their rights as Americans.
This history, the struggle of the APIDA community, is an important part of the American experience. By learning more about this community’s journey to civil rights, we can acknowledge this rich legacy of achievement alongside hardships and sacrifices that have greatly impacted US History.
The Contributions of the APIDA Community to Healthcare and Medicine
The APIDA community has played a pivotal role in healthcare and medicine, enriching the sector with cultural insights, innovation, and expertise. Some of their key contributions include the following:
- Cultural Medicine and Traditional Healing: Traditional healing practices, including herbal and Traditional Chinese Medicine, have offered valuable insights into holistic health, integrative medicine, and preventive care. Traditional healing involves traditional healers or medicine men who use a combination of herbal medicine, songs, dance, storytelling, and ceremonies to address ailments and restore harmony in the community. Notably, acupuncture, tai chi, and ayurvedic, plant-based treatments have made their mark in global medicine.These traditional healing techniques address health from a multidimensional perspective. They complement modern healthcare by offering additional options for promoting wellness, managing chronic conditions, and enhancing the quality of life. Without these traditional efforts, holistic well-being and mental health promotion would be impossible to achieve.Traditional healing approaches are rooted in cultural beliefs and are passed down through generations. They differ from modern medicine as they emphasize holistic well-being and interconnectedness with nature. These traditional approaches to medicine have been preserved and integrated into modern healthcare to enhance patient care and overall well-being.
- Medical Research and Innovation: Many scientists and leaders in STEM have emerged from the APIDA community, advancing medical research and innovation. One notable scientist, Dr. Tu Youyou, was a Chinese malariologist and pharmaceutical chemist who discovered an innovative treatment for malaria, which secured the Nobel Prize for Physiology/Medicine in 2015. The anti-malaria drug, named artemsinin, fought off malaria-friendly parasites. Dr. Tu first tested the medicine on herself to ensure that it was safe. The treatment saved a lot of lives in areas affected by the disease.
- Healthcare Professionals: Many individuals from the APIDA community have made significant contributions to various healthcare professions, including medicine, nursing, veterinary, dentistry, and pharmacy. Their impact extends across research, education, and patient care.
Tetsuzo Akutso is one of the most renowned healthcare professionals from the APIDA community. He played a key role in the development of the artificial heart. The artificial heart is a device that can be placed in the chest, replacing diseased ventricles and valves responsible for pumping blood. Tetsuzo’s contributions have greatly improved the medical field, saving many lives.
Notable Contributions Worthy to Celebrate
Various groups and individuals from the APIDA community have greatly contributed to healthcare, improving systems, breaking barriers, and advancing patient care:
Filipino Healthcare Workers
Filipino healthcare workers have greatly contributed to the American medical system. One example is Dr. Fe del Mundo. She was the first female medical student to be admitted to Harvard Medical School. She is credited with studies that led to the invention of an improved incubator and a device to treat jaundice. She also worked on improving child healthcare and played a key role in the establishment of the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines.
Over the years, Filipino healthcare workers have filled staffing gaps in American hospitals, especially during health crises. However, their contribution has not always been appreciated, as seen in exploitation and wage discrimination. Regardless, Filipino nurses have exhibited a steadfast commitment to delivering healthcare to their patients.
Honoria Acosta-Sison
Born in 1888 amidst the Philippine Revolution against Spain and the Philippine-American War, Honoria Acosta-Sison rose to become a pioneer in the medical field. Despite the struggles she experienced and the limitations in education, she was determined to pursue medical education in the U.S.
Acosta-Sison was funded by the government to study abroad and graduated in 1909 from the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. She became the first Filipino woman physician. Specializing in obstetrics, she researched and pioneered techniques such as low cesarean section in the Philippines. She has also written numerous articles and papers on obstetrics, which greatly advanced medicine in the Philippines.
Margaret Chung, MD
Margaret Chung is the first female Chinese-American physician in the U.S. She broke numerous medical barriers and emerged as an advocate for social justice. She was the only woman in her medical class. As a result, she decided to dress in masculine clothing and identified herself as “Mike” so that colleagues would take her seriously.
Chung became an emergency surgeon in Los Angeles. She also founded the Chinatown Free Clinic in San Francisco, the first Western hospital in the neighborhood. While she did not serve herself, she was influential in creating the women’s branch of the naval reserves. This achievement paved the way for the integration of women into the U.S. armed forces.
Richard Kekuni Akana Blaisdell, MD
Richard Kekuni was a highly respected physician. He was also a champion for the rights of Native Hawaiians. He passionately addressed the health crisis among Native Hawaiians, who experienced high rates of chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
During World War II, Richard was stationed in Japan. While in Japan, he studied the effect of radiation after the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings. He greatly helped those affected.
Richard was also an activist of Native Hawaiian self-governance. He played a key role in the passage of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act. This Act provides culturally appropriate services and comprehensive care to Native Hawaiians.
APIDA Community Events in San Diego
Here are some of the most popular APIDA events in San Diego that you can consider:
- San Diego Asian Film Festival: The San Diego Asian Film Festival is organized by the Pacific Arts Movement, a non-profit organization in San Diego. The festival showcases the best in Asia and Asian-American cinema. Films showcased include those from the Philippines, Japan, Korea, China, and other APIDA countries. This event provides a platform for filmmakers and storytellers from the APIDA community.
- Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego: This annual festival is organized to celebrate the diversity of Asian and Pacific Islands’ cultures. The event features cultural exhibitions, live performances, and traditional food vendors.
- APIDA Student Organizations: Universities and colleges in San Diego, including San Diego State University and San Diego City College, have APIDA student organizations. These organizations host regular community service activities and social events that provide a space for students to connect and interact with peers while celebrating their cultural heritage. These events also advocate for important issues affecting the APIDA community.
Other Ways to Celebrate and Support APIDA Heritage Month
This month, we encourage the community to donate blood at San Diego Blood Bank! It’s important that our blood donor population matches the diverse patient population in our region. There is a critical need for a diverse donor pool to help support the needs of patients battling diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect African-American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American, and Hispanic communities. We invite everyone interested in helping the community thrive and ensuring the APIDA community is supported, by joining us in this lifesaving mission.
Your blood donation can make a significant impact. When you donate with San Diego Blood Bank, you become part of a community that values equity and inclusivity. We hope to improve health outcomes for all and address preventable blood-related health disparities. Explore our site for more information on donating blood and schedule an appointment when you’re ready!
