May 19 - National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

May 19 is the 6th Annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It is a day to break the silence about HIV/AIDS in Asian and Pacific Islander communities and encourage individuals to get tested for HIV.

Click here for more info

Chicago Play focuses on India-US health & ethics

Opening night is February 23.

Location: I 3408 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago, 60657.

http://www.stagelefttheatre.com/

“Zach and Abbie are an American couple desperate to have a child. Beena is a 19 year old Indian woman struggling to escape an abusive relationship and provide for her son. When financial concerns convince Abbie to hire a surrogate in India, the two women’s lives become tangled with surprising and dangerous consequences. Here where it’s safe is a new play by award-winning playwright and Stage Left Theatre Ensemble member M.E.H. Lewis (Burying the Bones, andFellow Travellers) that asks what comes of the choices we make and what happens when we run out of choices.”

South Asian Public Health Association

After many (many) years the South Asian Public Health Association finally has an updated website. Please refer to this website to see what is happening within our community!

I encourage you all to sign up and become members. As a board member I hope to see much change within this organization over the next few years!

http://www.sapha.org/

Health Reform Alert: Call Congress to Support Fair Treatment of Immigrants and Join a Webinar on Health Reform and South Asians

Want to learn more about health care issues affecting the South Asian community?

• Join a webinar on "Health Reform and the South Asian Community" on Monday, October 26th at 2 pm EST/1 pm CST/11 am PST to learn the latest from experts and discuss what it means for the South Asian community. Register for the webinar by clicking here. (After registering you will receive a confirmation email with a link and call-in information and access code. Before the webinar, click the link and call in to the number from your confirmation email. When prompted, enter the access code.)
• Check out two health reform factsheets developed by SAALT on "What You Need to Know about Health Insurance Reform" and "Health Care Issues Affecting South Asians in the United States"
• Learn more about health care issues affecting immigrants by visiting the APIA Health Forum's, the Asian American Justice Center's, and theNational Immigration Law Center's websites.

For additional information, contact SAALT at saalt@saalt.org.

So Much Going on at APHA

Here is a listing of just a few events...if you are at APHA they are GREAT networking events!

As I receive more information, I'll send them along..

Sunday Events:

South Asian Public Health Association Annual Dinner

Sunday, November 8th

TBD

www.sapha.org

Monday Events:

APHA Asian Pacific Islander (API) Caucus Student & Young Professionals Breakfast Meeting

Monday, November 9th, 6:30am - 8:00am

Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Regency C1 Ballroom

Event Details: studentrep@apicaucus.org

Tuesday Events:

Asian Pacific Islander (API) Caucus for Public Health

Tuesday, November 10th, 8:00pm-10:00pm

35th Anniversary Social Reception

Golden Phoenix Restaurant http://www.hkgolden.phoenix.com

Event Details: chair@apicaucus.org

DC Health Care Reform Town Hall for the South Asian Community: Thursday, Oct 15th

South Asian Health Reform Community Town Hall

Thursday, October 15, 2009

6:30pm - 7:45pm

American University - Washington College of Law

4801 Massachusetts Ave, NW (Room 602)

Join local community members for a town hall to learn the latest from experts on what's happening with health reform and discuss what it could mean for the South Asian Community

Location is metro accessible: Located near the Tenleytown Metro Station on the Red Line; Shuttle Service to WCL from tenleytown is available.

RSVP by Tuesday, Oct 13th: saalt@saalt.org

Reminder: 5th Annual Asian American Health Conference

The 5th Annual Asian American Health Conference, "Reinvesting in Our communities for Health Equity", will be held next week, October 8th - 9th, 2009. I will be presenting a poster session "Review & Analysis of Community Based Organizations Impacting South Asian Health". I hope to see you there.

Conference Information:

Center for the Study of Asian American Health

5th Annual Asian American Health Conference

"Reinvesting in Our Communities for Health Equity"

October 8th – 9th, 2009

Farkas Auditorium, NYU Langone Medical Center

To find out more about this conference, please visit:
http://www.med.nyu.edu/csaah/events/conf2009.html
To register for this conference, please visit:
http://www.med.nyu.edu/csaah/events/eventregistration09.html

Conference Topics Include: Immigration; health literacy, language access, community basedparticipatory research; training research and health professional advocates; developingpartnerships across Asian American communities; and ensuring inclusion of APIs withinthe political system. Health issues of particular concern for APIs families to behighlighted include hepatitis B, cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, women’shealth, nutrition and mental health.

Recruiting Participants for South Asian Focus Groups in San Francisco

Earlier this summer I posted an opportunity for members of the South Asian community in Chicago to participate in study on understanding the knowledge and use of bidi's, paan, paan masala, guthka, and zarda. This opportunity is now available for South Asians living in the San Francisco Bay area.

The focus groups will be held in October 2009. Participants who meet the criteria for the the study will be paid #30 for their time (approximately 1.5 hours). In addition, light refreshments (e.g., chaat) will be served.

Interested? Please contact:

Arnab Mukerjea, MPH

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Candidate

School of Public Health

University of California, Berkeley

Phone: 510.397.0827

Email: amukerjea@cal.berkeley.edu

Essay Contest: How Can We Fix Our Health Care System?

The Asian American Action-fund Blog (AAA) is sponsoring an essay contest centered around the healthcare debate. Specifically, how do we fix our system?

Please send your blog post on the following topic:

How can we fix our healthcare system so that everyone can get access to quality, affordable healthcare? Please share your thoughts and personal stories on why we need healthcare reform now (500 words or less).

How to Enter:

Please send entries to Richer Chen: rchen@aaa-fund.org

Deadline: September 25, 2009 at 8pm (EST)

Prizes are as follow:

First Place: One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150), 2 free tickets to the 2010 AAA-Fund Gala (a $200 value), and an exclusive invitation to become a featured AAA-Fund Blogger

Second Place: 2 free tickets to the 2010 AAA-Fund Gala (a $200 value), and an exclusive invitation to become a featured AAA-Fund Blogger

Third Place: Lunch with a AAA-Fund leader, and an exclusive invitation to become a featured AAA-Fund Blogger

APIC Best Published Paper Award - Call for Submissions (Due 9/14)

The Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health (API Caucus) as recognized by the American Public Health Association (APHA) is pleased to announce the Fifth Annual Best Published Paper Award. The award is to recognize achievement in the field of public health as it applies to Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander issues.
 
This award will be presented, along with the Best Student Abstract Award, at the 2009 APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Philadelphia , PA on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the API Caucus Social Reception.  To find out more about API Caucus events during the APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition, please visit http://www.apicaucus.org/apha/

Family Services Walkathon

Walk to Stop Domestic Violence on October 3, 2009.  Please register today or sponsor our event at http://www.maifs.dojiggy.com and invite your family, friends, and colleagues to do the same.
MAi FAMILY depends on your contributions for safe housing, legal fees, groceries, and other services for our clients.  Please donate with an open heart. 

Indo-US Global Health Symposium & Dinner: September 26th in IL

Saturday, September 26, 2009 

Time: 6:00PM 

Waterford Banquets 

933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 

 

Symposium on Global Health - 1 PM to 5 PM 

Cocktail Reception - 6 PM to 7 PM 

Awards Ceremony -  7 PM 

followed by Dinner and Entertainment 

$100 per person 

www.ichhaindia.org/summit   - 708-707-4428

Call for Abstracts: Global Health & Innovation Conference

Registration (Early Bird Rate) and Abstract Submission Now Open.

GH/Innovate 2010
Global Health & Innovation Conference
Presented by Unite For Sight
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Saturday, April 17 - Sunday, April 18, 2010

Registration Now Open (Early Bird Registration Rate): http://www.ghinnovate.org/

Call For Abstracts: Submit an abstract online at http://www.ghinnovate.org/
The first deadline for abstract submission is August 15. The final abstract deadline is September 20.

"A Meeting of Minds"?CNN

200 speakers <http://www.ghinnovate.org/speakers>, including keynote addresses by Seth Godin, Jeffrey Sachs and Sonia Sachs. Social innovation sessions by CEOs and Directors of Acumen Fund, Partners in Health, WaterPartners, Save The Children, HealthStore Foundation, and many others.

Asian American Health Conference - Save the Date

The Center for the Study of Asian American Health hosts the 

5th Annual Asian American Health Conference

Reinvesting In Our Communities for Health Equity

October 8-9, 2009

For more information: http://www.med.nyu.edu/csaah/events/conf2009.html

South Asian Communities & Cancer: Raising Awareness, Facing Challenges, Assessing Resources

South Asian Communities & Cancer

Raising Awareness, Facing Challenges, Accessing Resources

Saturday, July 25, 2009

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Los Angeles, CA)

9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m

FREE

Morning Session: Impact of Cancer on South Asians

Sharing stories of Courage: Cancer Survivors and Their Families

Afternoon Session: Making A Difference - Cancers Affecting South Asians

Discussion includes Ovarian Cancer, Breast & Cervical Cancer, and Colorectal Cancer

Venue Location:

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

1450 Biggy St, LG Level

Los Angeles, CA 90033

Recruiting Participants for South Asian Focus Groups in Chicago

A Ph.D candidate at the University of California, Berkeley is conducting a study for his dissertation on understanding the knowledge and use of certain products (bidi's, paan, paan masala, guthka, zarda) by members of the South Asian community in Chicago. The research protocol has beeen approved by the institution's Internal Review Board (committee for protection of human subject's). This study is funded by the National Cancer Institute via a sub-award from the University of California, Davis Cancer Center.

The focus groups (approximately eight individuals in each group) will be held between July 25, 2009 and August 1, 2009, at either the Devon Bank or at the Indo-American Center in Chicago. Participants who meet the criteria for the study will be paid $30 for their time (approximately 1.5 hours). In addition, light refreshments (e.g. chaat) will be served at the focus groups.

Friends, family and/or colleagues that are interested, please contact:
Arnab Mukherjea, MPH
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Candidate
School of Public Health
University of California, Berkeley
Phone: 510.397.0827
Email: amukherjea@cal.berkeley.edu

National AIDS Strategy Call/Webinar- Wednesday, July 8, 2009

National AIDS Strategy Call/Webinar

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

2:00pm-3:00pm (PST)

The National Office of AIDS Policy is charged with developing the strategy. The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) is hosting a conference call/webinar about the National AIDS Strategy. Agenda for this call includes:

• Share information regarding perspectives from the broader advocacy community regarding the National AIDS Strategy
• Provide updates on current plans/progress
• Discuss potential implicatons and next steps for the Asian Ameican, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community.

If you are interested in attending, please register by clicking on the link below. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/821154027
Dial-in information for the call and log-in information for the webinar will be emailed to you upon registration.

For more information, please contact:
Ed Tepporn
HIV Program Director
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Direct Line: (415) 568-3309
Email: etepporn@apiahf.org

CATCH Leadership Training: July 9-11, 2009

Community Advocacy & Training on Cancer & Health (CATCH)

Leadership Training

July 9-11, 2009

Orange County, California

Registration: FREE

Location: St. Joseph Hospital

Center for Cancer Prevention & Treatment

Deadlines: July 2, 2009

This 2 1/2 day training offers Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, community members, and health advocates the opportunity to learn how to:

• Provide individuals, groups and communities with the necessary training, tools, and skills to be competent, confident, and effective spokespersons, advocates, and leaders with regard to AA and NHPI communities.
  
• Enhance personal and community capacities for advocacy and leadership on cancer control issues across the cancer care continuum.

RSVP: July 2, 2009 

Contact Mavis for more details: 415.568.3311 or cdprogram@apiahf.org

Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health: Call for Nominations

Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health

Call for Nominations: Deadline June 26, 2009

The Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health in official relations with the American Public Health Association (APHA) is seeking nominations for the following Executive Committee positions for the term starting November 2009:

• Chair-Elect (2-year term)
  
• Program Chair-Elect (2-year term)
  
• Communications Chair (2-year term)
  
• Membership Chair (2-year term)
• Treasurer (2-year term)
• Student Representative (1-year term)
• Caucus Councilor (2 openings; 2-year term)

These positions offer the opportunity to actively participate in a national-level organization with the specific goal to address the public health issues of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Positions are filled on a voluntary basis and require serving as an Executive Committee member of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus. Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged. All terms will begin at the conclusion of this year's APHA annual meeting in November 2009. 

Please submit name and a brief bio for nominated (or self-nominated) individuals to Fahina Tavake-Pasi at secretary@apicaucus.org by 11:59pm (ET) Friday, June 26, 2009.

Race for the Cure - THANK YOU

Thank you all for those that supported Team SAHEP in the Race for the Cure! With your help we were able to raise more than $2300 towards Susan G. Komen and have a team of close to 10 people at the race. SAHEP appreciates everyone's support.

Please keep an eye out for future SAHEP events