The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is a national organization that aims to promote the health and well-being of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, help healthcare workers understand how to care for AANHPI patients in a culturally sensitive manner, and provide a forum for AANHPI medical and premed students develop personally and professionally. Our podcast will explore our community through roundtable discussions, conversations with leaders in healthcare, and chats with current leaders and alumni of our organization.
Publisher
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
Episode 3 - Sean Tiwanak on Medicine, Music, and Bringing Aloha to Patient Care
This episode of White Coats and Rice features Sean Tiwanak, a former respiratory therapist, heart transplant survivor, and musician from Honolulu, Hawaii. In celebration of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Sean reflects on his journey from caring for patients to experiencing severe heart failure and transplantation himself. He shares how his background in respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary medicine helped him recognize the seriousness of his condition and navigate life as a patient. Sean also discusses healthcare barriers facing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, the importance of listening to patients, and the role of empathy and human connection in medicine. The episode highlights how compassion, resilience, and “bringing aloha” can shape the way future healthcare professionals care for others.
Full transcript of this episode: https://www.apamsa.org/apamsa-podcast
FOLLOW APAMSA
Website: https://www.apamsa.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalapamsa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalapamsa
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nationalapamsa
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalapamsa
This episode was produced by Herbie Villaflores, hosted by Herbie Villaflores, and graphic by Romi Sheng.
1 Sept 2026
Episode 2 - South Asians in Medicine: Navigating Culture, Community, and the Six-Year Pathway
This episode of White Coats and Rice features Akshaj Variath, Krishna Gandham, and Keshav Ghanekar, three South Asian medical students at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. In celebration of South Asian Heritage Month, the panel reflects on what being South Asian means to them. They also share their journeys into medicine and other paths they considered before committing to UMKC’s accelerated six-year program. The guests dive into how their communities shaped their upbringing and how they serve as role models in medicine for the younger generation back home. The episode highlights how important their culture is in their lives as they navigate medical school.
Full transcript of this episode: https://www.apamsa.org/apamsa-podcast
FOLLOW APAMSA
Website: https://www.apamsa.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalapamsa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalapamsa
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nationalapamsa
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalapamsa
This episode was produced by Herbie Villaflores, hosted by Herbie Villaflores, and graphic by Romi Sheng.
31 Jul 2026
Episode 1 - Dr. Rachel Lee on Service and Military Medicine
Welcome to Season 3! This episode of White Coats and Rice features Dr. Rachel Lee, a board-certified allergist, immunologist, and internal medicine physician who is a professor in the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and a professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. As a retired U.S. Navy medical officer, Dr. Lee reflects on her 20+ years in military medicine through the HPSP pathway, her transition into allergy and immunology, and her experiences balancing clinical practice with military leadership. She also shares insights on mentorship, resilience, and navigating identity as an Asian woman in academic and military medicine, emphasizing advocacy and support for trainees. The episode highlights her perspective on building a meaningful, adaptable career across service, academia, and specialty practice.
For listeners who would like to continue the conversation or reach out, Dr. Lee can be contacted at ral026@ucsd.edu (mailto:ral026@ucsd.edu)
FOLLOW APAMSA
Website: https://www.apamsa.org (https://www.apamsa.org)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalapamsa (https://www.instagram.com/nationalapamsa)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalapamsa (https://www.facebook.com/nationalapamsa)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nationalapamsa (https://www.tiktok.com/@nationalapamsa)
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalapamsa (https://www.youtube.com/@nationalapamsa)
This episode was produced by Grace Kim, hosted by Madeline Pan, and graphic by Romi Sheng.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
87,373
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
36
Social presence
97
YouTube
85
Engagement
51
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