Join AAPCHO for a multi-part series on how health centers, providers, and patients can address diabetes and other comorbidities among AAs and NH/PIs. This self-paced series will feature learning modules that outline social, political, and environmental impacts on diabetes management. Sessions will also promote resources to support health center performance improvement and transformation efforts to manage diabetes and other comorbid diseases for AAs and NH/PIs.

Intended Audience:

Health center workforce including providers, physicians, nurses, care coordinators, patient navigators, community health workers, pharmacists, and other staff who work directly with patients who have diabetes or are pre-diabetic.

Module 1: Whole Food Model for Holistic Community Wellness                             

This module features Janssen Hang, Executive Director of the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Janssen highlights the journey of Hmong refugees who revitalized the farmers market system in Minnesota. He highlights HAFA’s innovative Whole Food model that gave way to successful programs like Veggie Rx, which significantly improved health outcomes by addressing food insecurity, fostering connection to community, and reducing chronic disease incidence overall.

Speaker: 

  • Janssen Hang, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Hmong American Farmers Association
Module 2: Community Intervention Strategies Among Pacific Islander Populations in Utah                           

This module features Ivoni Nash, Program Director at National Tongan American Society of Utah. Ivoni highlights diabetes and chronic disease management through in-language support and culturally-tailored community health education. She shares history and context of the specific impacts of type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes among Pacific Islanders (PIs) living in Utah and shares multiple culturally-tailored strategies to support PIs with diabetes and chronic disease management.

Speaker: 

  • Ivoni Nash, Program Director, National Tongan American Society
Module 3: Culturally Grounded Interventions to Improve Mental and Physical Health                             

This module features Dr. Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula, Professor and Chair of Native Hawaiian Health at the University of Hawaiʻi. Dr. Kaholokula highlights the importance of culturally grounded interventions in improving health outcomes. He discusses the physical and mental health impacts of connection to community, culture, and traditional practices.

Speaker: 

  • Keawe’aimoku Kaholokula, PhD, Professor and Chair of Native Hawaiian Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Module 4: Bridging Community and Clinic to Promote Diabetes Equity in South Asian Communities

This module features Dr. Nadia Islam, PhD, Professor and Director of Translational Research Partnerships at NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Islam discusses the importance of community health workers (CHWs), as the bridge between the community and health systems. She highlights research and interventions to improve diabetes and comorbidities prevention and management among South Asian populations.

Speaker: 

  • Nadia Islam, PhD, Professor and Director of Translational Research Partnerships, NYU School of Medicine