History

APAMSA @ UCI is the UC Irvine School of Medicine chapter of the national Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association, which currently has over 15,000 members at over 90 chapters nationwide.  The national organization was formed in 1995 in response to growing concerns regarding, among other issues, the lack of advocates for the health of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), the lack of discussions of APA health issues in medical school curriculums, and the scarcity of medical knowledge regarding problems specific to the APA population. Its purpose, then, was to bring together pre-professional students and others interested in the health issues particularly affecting APAs, as to have a strong, collective and public voice promoting the health and well being of the Asian Pacific American community.  

At UCI, we have a unique opportunity to impact a large demographic in the community in which we are situated, with Asian Pacific Americans comprising the largest minority group in Orange County. Since its inception in 2007, our chapter has grown dramatically both in its membership and in its presence on campus and in the community, with headlining issues including the disproportionate problems of Hepatitis B in the Asian community and Bone Marrow Donation.

Through our efforts, we strive to educate and inform our medical student colleagues, the larger university community, and our surrounding demographic of the APA health issues which affect their professional and personal lives, while initiating grassroots efforts in health care policy and research to counteract the sustained dearth of public information in this area.

To find out more about our specific projects, please visit the “Projects and Events” tab on this website.