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 4 - Who Gets Left Out of Research? Lester Uy on Health Equity
Episode 4 - Who Gets Left Out of Research? Lester Uy on Health Equity
This episode of White Coats and Rice features Lester Andrew Uy, a pre-medical and pre-law student who also serves as a program administrator and researcher at the Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education. In celebration of Advocacy Month, Lester shares how more inclusive research and stronger community partnerships can help make health disparities visible and create opportunities for more equitable policy reform. He also reflects on how his background in business and accounting shaped his path toward medicine, law, and health advocacy. Throughout the conversation, Lester discusses the influence of his Filipino family and cultural experiences on his values, goals, and commitment to serving underrepresented communities. The episode highlights how research, advocacy, and community engagement can work together to advance health equity.
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 Aaron Zhang, hosted by Aaron Zhang, edited by Aaron Zhang, and graphic by Romi Sheng.
28 Sept 2026
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.
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