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Penn State Health, College of Medicine Recognize Asian American, Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Penn State Health and the College of Medicine celebrate our Asian American and Pacific Islander workforce, patients and community during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May.

The health system’s Asian Physician and Professional Association, with support from the International Workforce Inclusion Resource Group and Multicultural Business Employee Resource Group, is recognizing AAPI Heritage Month through a multitiered approach.

Trailblazer nominations

Employees may nominate trailblazers who identify as Asian and have made a significant impact within Penn State Health and the College of Medicine. Nominations will be accepted throughout May, with selected trailblazers featured in The RITE Stuff in June. All nominations can be sent to diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Themed meal from Sodexo

Sodexo will be providing an AAPI-themed meal at all regional hospital sites on Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24.

Virtual seminar

The Asian Physician and Professional Association will host a virtual seminar called “Language Talks.” The event aims to increase awareness of the language barriers faced by non-native English speakers and promote enhanced understanding across cultures:

  • Thursday, May 30
  • Noon–1 p.m.
  • Register

About AAPI

The Asian-Pacific area encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

Congress created Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1978, expanding the observance in 1992 to a month. The heritage month coincides with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States in May 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869, as the majority of workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

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