VAF supports first-ever AANHPI health summit in St. Louis
St. Louis Organizations Unite for AANHPI Pulse Check to Address Health Disparities in Asian American Communities
Groundbreaking summit tackles critical health challenges facing AA and NHPI populations
AANHPI Pulse Check logo
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. – A coalition of St. Louis-based Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AA & NHPI) organizations will host AANHPI Pulse Check – Evaluating Our Health, a first-of-its-kind summit tackling significant health disparities in the region.
The event follows the American Cancer Society’s 2024 Cancer Facts & Figures for AANHPI Communities, which reveals cancer as the leading cause of death among Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese populations. Asian Americans are 40% more likely to die from liver cancer and twice as likely to die from stomach cancer than White populations. Among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, liver cancer mortality is 75% higher, and breast cancer deaths are 30% higher.
“As a Filipino American born and raised in St. Louis, I’m incredibly proud that the St. Louis Integrated Health Network (IHN) is part of the first-ever AANHPI Health Summit here in our city,” said Joel Crespo, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at St. Louis Integrated Health Network. “This event is a big step forward for the AANHPI community, and it truly aligns with IHN’s mission to promote health equity through partnership and collaboration, bringing together diverse voices and resources to improve health outcomes for underserved and marginalized communities in our region and beyond. We look forward to building on this momentum, ensuring that this first step leads us toward lasting health equity, growing and evolving to meet the needs of our communities for years to come.”
Despite being the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S., Asians and Asian Americans remain underrepresented in health research. The AA & NHPI diaspora includes diverse communities with unique risks and care barriers.
Local organizations, healthcare providers, and industry leaders will gather to share knowledge, raise awareness, and develop strategies for better outcomes and a long-term health action plan in St. Louis.
“This event is important to bring more awareness to the current data as well as hopefully drive an increased interest in developing more research studies that can help to bring meaningful change in our diverse communities,” said Jamie Currier, Associate Director of community partnerships with the American Cancer Society.
AANHPI Pulse Check is a collaborative effort led by the American Cancer Society, Washington University, SSM Health, St. Louis Integrated Health Network, World Wide Technology, Makan Consulting, OCA-Advocate St. Louis, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the Very Asian Foundation.
The free event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on April 25, 2025, at World Wide Technology with a keynote, panel discussion, breakout sessions, and even yoga, boba, and lunch. Registration is required.
KSDK news anchor and VAF co-founder Michelle Li will emcee the day’s event.
For more information, contact Mindy Choo at hello.makanconsulting@gmail.com.
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