Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Penn State Health and College of Medicine Takes a Multifaceted Approach

The Penn State Health and College of Medicine are celebrating 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.

To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, the Asian Physician and Professional Association is accepting nominations for trailblazers who identify as Asian and have made a significant impact within Penn State Health and the College of Medicine. Nominations can be sent to diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu and will be featured in The RITE Stuff in June. Additionally, Sodexo will provide an AAPI-themed meal at all regional hospital sites on Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24.

The health system is also hosting a virtual seminar called “Language Talks” to increase awareness of the language barriers faced by non-native English speakers and promote enhanced understanding across cultures. This seminar will take place during the month of May.

The Asian-Pacific area encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Congress created Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1978, expanding the observance in 1992 to a month. The heritage month coincides with important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history, including the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the United States in May 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869, where the majority of workers were Chinese immigrants.

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