Leadership Message: Honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Dear Colleagues,

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a time for us to celebrate and honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs).

This monthlong celebration also serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing health equity within the AANHPI community and beyond. As a collective community, we must address health inequities taking place, acknowledge initiatives that tackle these inequities, and continue to invest in a future where every individual has equal opportunities to thrive.

As part of the Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA) Employee Resource Group (ERG) at UC Davis Health, we are excited to celebrate this special month with you.

There are various ways to participate in festivities to raise awareness, promote understanding, encourage allyship, and foster unity among our community this month. So much has happened already this month:

2025 Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival

A two-day festival of films and discussions on May 2-3 celebrated the experiences of the AANHPI communities. This event was held as a community resource and was not affiliated with UC Davis or UC Davis Health.

Vietnamese Mini-Medical School 2025

As we age, it is important to learn about what we can do to maintain our health. The Vietnamese Mini-Medical School covers important health topics for the Vietnamese population. Presentations on May 3 were conducted in Vietnamese and followed by a question-and-answer session. It was hosted by ARI Community Services and in partnership with UC Davis Health.

On May 4, the 4th Annual Asian Pacific Culture Fest kicked off AANHPI Month with a day filled with food, music, art, locally made products and more. This event was held as a community resource and was not affiliated with UC Davis or UC Davis Health.

Yours in health,

APASA ERG Executive Committee

To learn more about all our UC Davis Health Employee Resource Groups visit the ERG website. These groups are open to anyone, regardless of background, who wishes to support, participate, or be educated in many cultures and communities at UC Davis Health. Membership and participation in Employee Resource Group activities are not dependent on race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any protected category under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.