The Asian American community is growing rapidly and encompasses a wealth of cultures, religions, languages and perspectives. Within these strengths lie the community’s greatest challenge—securing linguistically competent health care and tackling debilitating health disparities. At our 2006 Asian American Health Conference, we explored the health disparities that permeate the Asian American community and expressed commitment to change. Today is the time to usher in that change. The health needs of the Asian American community must be thrust to the forefront from individual homes to health care settings and to the wider community. In an effort to advance this goal, the Asian American Health Initiative conducted a community needs assessment, and in 2008 released a report, Asian American Health Priorities: Strengths, Needs, and Opportunities for Action. To follow-up on this seminal report, we invite you to a powerful one day conference that will gather an expert group of researchers, leaders and innovators as we reach for greater health parity.

The Asian American Health Conference 2009 will provide an opportunity for local and national experts to share their knowledge and experiences in order to help guide Asian Americans and key stakeholders to become advocates of change. Learn how you can make health needs a priority at a community, state and national level.

The 2009 Health Conference will:

  • Unveil the findings from 2008 AAHI Needs Assessment Report
  • Understand the dimensions of Asian American Health Disparities
  • Highlight best practice models
  • Identify barriers to health parity
  • Foster opportunities for networking

Breakout Session Themes:

Theme I
Increasing Knowledge and Raising Awareness of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Measures

Lack of knowledge or awareness continues to exist regarding the diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect Asian Americans. Obtaining current and accurate information on the health risks affecting Asian Americans, and on available resources for health promotion, disease prevention, and disease treatment, is critical. This information, furthermore, needs to be effectively disseminated to members of the Asian American community.

Theme II
Expanding Access to Quality Health Care Services
Our health care delivery systems and the third party payer reimbursement programs are complex. Seeking health care services and obtaining reimbursement can be a daunting task, especially for populations who are unaccustomed to the health care system and who may use professional health services primarily for acute care needs. Concerted efforts are needed to maximize access to existing health care and to ensure receipt of appropriate health services. These efforts include minimizing barriers to care, providing access to cultural and linguistically appropriate resources, and enhancing health literacy.

Theme III
Broadening Partnerships and Collaborations
There are many Asian community-based and faith-based organizations nationally that provide cultural insight and direct access to specific Asian populations. Collaborating with these organizations is essential to engage in program planning and implementation efforts to meet the health education needs of these populations. These collaborations also serve to promote community empowerment and community-government partnerships, and thus provide valuable opportunities for addressing health disparities in the current environment of limited fiscal resources.

Theme IV
Enhancing Data Collection and Reporting
Obtaining, analyzing, and monitoring health and related data on an on-going basis is essential to provide an evidence base for making informed decisions about how best to direct available resources to meet the needs of Asian American populations. Data collection is also essential to allow health organizations and professionals to stay in the forefront of emerging health issues, and to tailor, evaluate, and monitor the progress of existing and new programs and initiatives. Routine data reporting heightens the visibility of important health issues of the Asian American community, and helps the public, health care providers, policy makers, and other stakeholders prioritize these issues in decision making.

Who should attend?

Community Health Advocates
Community Health Educators
Community Leaders and Partners
Grant Makers
Health Professionals
Medical Care Providers
Policy Makers
Researchers

Venue
Hilton Gaithersburg
620 Perry Parkway,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877

REGISTER NOW!

Space is limited. No Registration fee.

QUESTIONS?
For more information on attending or becoming an exhibitor, please call 240.777.4517 or email at aahiconference09@montgomerycountymd.gov.

2006 Conference
To learn more about the AAHI 2006 Conference, click here

Conference Greetings

Ike Leggett, Montgomery County Executive
Susan C. Lee, Maryland State Delegate
Phil Andrews, President, Montgomery County Council
George Leventhal, Councilmember
Duchy Trachtenberg, Councilmember
Uma Ahluwalia, Director, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Carlessia Hussein, RN, DrPh, Director, MD DHMH Office of Minority Health

Master of Ceremonies: Arnab Mukherjea, Dr.Ph(c), MPH

Keynote Speaker

Arthur Chen, MD
Chief Medical Officer,
Alameda Alliance for Health

  • Recently served as the Chief Medical Officer of the Alameda Alliance for Health.
  • Currently serves on the Board of Directors of The California Endowment.
  • Practiced clinical medicine since 1983 as a family physician at Asian Health Services.
  • Chaired Board of Directors of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (1998 – 2006).
  • Former Health Officer for Alameda County (1996-2001).
  • Served on advisory and planning committees
    • Bureau of Primary Health Care of the U.S. Public Health Service
    • Office of Minority Health
    • National Institutes of Health

Dr. Art Chen’s Full Biography

Other Featured Speakers:

Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, MPH  
Program Manager, Health Policy, Coalition for Asian American Children & Families (CACF)

Jeffrey Caballero, MPH   
Executive Director, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organization (AAPCHO)

Kenneth Chu, PhD
Branch Chief, Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Swaran Dhawan, AGSW, LCSW-C
Board Chair, Counselors Helping (South) Asian/Indians. Inc. (CHAI)

Henrietta Ho-Asjoe, MPS   
Administrator and Director, Community Development Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH) NYU School of Medicine

Deeana Laurie Jang, J.D.
Policy Director, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APHIF)

Sunmin Lee, ScD
Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics University of Maryland School of Public Health

Rod Lew, MPH   
Founding Executive Director, Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL)

Ernest Moy, MD, MPH
Medical Officer, Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Arnab Mukherjea, Dr.Ph(c), MPH
Chair of Scientific Programs & Past Chair
Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health (API Caucus)

Beverly J. Quan Gor, EdD, RD, LD, CDE
Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Research on Minority Health (CRMH), Department of Health Disparities Research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Marguerite Ro, Dr.Ph
Deputy Director, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)

Shahin Sebastian, MS
Program Manager, Patient Navigators Program, Cross Cultural InfoTech

Amy Shek, MS   
Site Administrator, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center

Jing Zhang, PhD   
Program Director, Community health, Asian Human Services