According to U.S. Census reports, Asian Americans make up about 8% of the U.S. population and are the fastest growing minority group in the nation. However, there is limited data on the cardiovascular health and other chronic diseases of these 26.5 million individuals in the U.S. who identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander (AANHPI).
That’s why the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and four other NIH institutes launched a new seven-year population study in August 2023, with the Fred Hutch Cancer Center serving as the national coordinating center. Several University of Washington School of Public Health faculty and alumni are playing key leadership roles in these efforts including Gary Chan, professor of biostatistics and health systems and population health.
In a new Q&A with the School of Public Health, Chan shares the importance of this research initiative and its potential public health impact, what is needed to improve health equity among AANHPI populations, and his advice for future public health leaders who want to improve AANHPI health outcomes.