Asian Women for Health
Asian Women for Health
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AWFH is a peer-led, community-based network dedicated to advancing Asian women’s health and wellness through education, advocacy, and support. We envision a world where Asian women are well-informed, have access to care that is culturally appropriate and high quality, and inspired to live happy, healthy lives.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Feb 17, 2021
Episode # 13: Dr. Sophia Yen on Birth Control and #PeriodsOptional.
Is it safe for women to turn off their periods? Join us for an intimate discussion with Taiwanese American Sophia Yen, MD, MPH. As CEO and Co-Founder of Pandia Health, she helped launch the first and only birth control delivery company founded and led by women - with a physician at the helm! In this episode, we’re taking an intimate look at women’s reproductive health and demystifying birth control while exploring #PeriodsOptional.
In addition to her work as an entrepreneur, Dr. Yen works in adolescent medicine and serves as clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford Medical School. She is a mother, wife, and a passionate advocate for women’s health, empowerment, and equity. She co-founded 3 nonprofit organizations/projects in her endeavors to improve the lives of women, including SheHeroes.org, a nonprofit that encourages young girls from all backgrounds to pursue nontraditional careers in STEM.
Resource Links:
- https://www.pandiahealth.com (also on Instagram, FB, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter)
- https://www.pandiahealth.com/periods-optional
First time on birth control pills? here are Dr. Yen’s tips
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Pzapgs68s
- TEDxBerkeley talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ7-_MOjEeY&feature=emb_logo
- SheHeroes.org: https://www.sheheroes.org
Disclaimer:
The information on this page is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content in this podcast is for general information purposes only.
Feb 26, 2020
Podcast #12: Survivor Stories: Healing with Humor
Warning! The content of this podcast may be triggering to some listeners and other sexual assault survivors, so please take the necessary precautions.
For this episode, we’re breaking the silence on sexual assault with our special guest and survivor, Sara Kuuipo Mishina Kunz. Sara has struggled with PTSD and depression, but she has used her personal experience as a survivor of sexual assault to better the lives of others.
Today, she is the proud founder of Survivor Stories, a mobile app created to bring mental health care to sexual assault survivors. She has written and performed an award-winning story, as well as a full-length comedy play about mental health, sexual assault, and the path to recovery. Her passion for visual and performing arts and comedy has helped her to thrive and connect with people all around the world.
Sara is an internationally renowned artist, performing her solo comedy circus show called, “The Flyin Hawaiian Show,” from Dubai to China. She is master of the hula hoop and contortion.
For more about Sara Kunz, visit https://www.sarakunz.com/
Jan 16, 2020
Podcast #11: Living Beyond Cancer and Cultural Stigma / Breast Cancer
While the prevalence of women’s breast cancer varies significantly by race/ethnicity, an earlier age-onset of breast cancer incidence, specifically among Asian and Asian American women, have warranted more research and public outreach for early screenings and mammograms, and education on the risk factors.
In this episode, we follow the personal journey of one young cancer survivor and advocate, Jeannie Karkowski, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 30. In the face of stigmas and struggles with her bi-cultural identity, she discovered the power of her own voice, as well as a support network that has helped her to heal and contribute to the community.
Additional Resources:
1. https://www.15-40.org/
2. Asian Women for Health: https://www.asianwomenforhealth.org/
3. Pink Hippy: http://pinkhippy.org/
4. Living Beyond Breast Cancer: https://www.lbbc.org/
BIO:
Jeannie Aejin Choi Karwowski was born in South Korea and moved to the US with her family as a teenager. She married the love of her life at the age of 28. She was later diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 30 as she was planning to have her first child. She endured many treatments (chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation) for nearly two years. Jeannie is now on long-term hormone therapies and looking forward to leading a healthy and happy life.
Jeannie actively participates in support groups for breast cancer, such as Living Beyond Breast Cancer and Lay Breast Health Advisors of Dana Farber Cancer Institute (https://www.dana-farber.org/), to help promote young women’s health in her community. She recently completed the Project LEAD Breast Cancer Advocacy Training Program of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) and participated as a rider for the first time in Tour de Pink East, hosted by the Young Survival Coalition. Nationally, she plans to continue participating in NBCC’s lobby day for breast cancer public policy advocacy and research panel reviews for the cure. In her spare time, she plays the piano and enjoys outdoor activities with her husband. With her degree in Biomedical engineering, Jeannie hopes to go back to school to find cures for breast cancer, serve cancer patients with love and compassion, and provide evidence-based guides and resources for patients and caregivers.
Nov 20, 2019
Podcast #10: Raising The Alarm on a Preventable Epidemic / Hepatitis B
As a racial/ethnic group, Asian Americans have the highest rates of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a leading cause of liver cancer. Nearly 50% of those affected by HBV today in the U.S. are of Asian descent, of which more than 70% are foreign-born. How could the prevalence of HBV be so disproportionately high in the Asian community?
In this episode, we sound the alarm on this critical public health issue with Dr. Elisa Choi, Internist and Infectious Disease Specialist, and Chief of Internal Medicine at her medical practice. Her concern over health disparities and commitment to providing culturally competent care to ethnic-specific populations have made her a champion and advocate of Hep B awareness. While Hepatitis B is not curable, it is both treatable and preventable with proper screening and vaccination.
Additional Resources:
1. American College of Physicians: Massachusetts Chapter: https://www.acponline.org/about-acp/chapters-regions/united-states/massachusetts-chapter/news-meetings
2. Hepatitis and Asian Americans: https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=50
3. HepBMD.com: https://hepbmd.com/
About Dr. Elisa Choi, MD
Dr. Elisa Choi is the current Governor of the MA Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP), becoming the first female and only Asian-American woman to be elected to the Governorship in the history of the MA ACP Chapter. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, and practices both as an Internist and as an Infectious Disease, HIV, and Hepatitis infection specialist. Dr. Choi has a particular interest in healthcare disparities, and in providing culturally competent care addressing health issues affecting Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) and minority populations.
Dr. Choi is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and holds clinical and educational leadership positions in her healthcare organization. She serves as a Chief of the Internal Medicine Department at her practice. She has extensive experience in healthcare and public health advocacy efforts at Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, and has also been actively involved in the planning and organization of an annual Advocacy Day at the MA State House for the MA ACP Chapter since 2016.”
Sep 21, 2019
Podcast #9: A Personal Path of Hope and Heartache / IVF
The struggle to conceive a child is real. It’s difficult to predict who is at risk for infertility, but it’s an issue that affects approximately 10-15% of couples throughout the U.S. And while in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a familiar household term, the complexity of the procedure and its impact on couples remain a bit of a mystery. In this episode, we share a candid conversation with Jarling Ho, who opens up about all the highs and lows of her personal IVF journey.
Jarling recently moved to Boston from LA, where she had served as Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center. She has extensive experience in conflict management, and has helped communities, organizations, and individuals manage differences effectively. She is a mediator, facilitator, coach, and restorative justice practitioner.
Additional Resources
1. Visit CCRM Fertility: https://www.ccrmivf.com
2. Know more about In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): https://infertility.brighamandwomens.org/ivf
3. Visit Boston IVF: https://www.bostonivf.com/
Aug 26, 2019
Podcast 8: "Breaking The Silence and Finding Safety in Community" / Domestic Violence
Domestic violence does not discriminate, but one can get help. Dawn Sauma has sought to educate and inspire others to take action against violence drawing from her own family's experience. Today, she is a community leader, advocate, and activist, who has worked in social services for over two decades. Her expertise in mental health and crisis intervention has led her to serve as the Co-Executive Director and Clinical Director of the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence. In this episode, she shares the complex challenges faced by many survivors and immigrant families, and the resources available along their journey to finding safety and hope.
BIO: Dawn Sauma, LICSW is the Co-Executive Director and Clinical Director of Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK). She has worked at ATASK for over 8 years, overseeing all direct service programs, collaborating with stakeholders and community partners and authoring many government and foundation grants. She has worked in social services for over 25 years as a provider, educator, manager, and administrator within mental health, crisis intervention, judicial, academic, and non-profit systems.
The majority of her work has been with underserved Asian communities in various settings and service delivery systems in Hawaii and Massachusetts. As a bi-racial Japanese/Caucasian American, advocate/activist; her work blends personal and professional experience into a mission focused on social justice issues in Asian and other marginalized communities.
For more info on ATASK, visit www.atask.org/site/.
Jul 26, 2019
#7: Eat, Live, and Learn: Habits For Your Health / Diabetes
For episode #7 of "From Resilience to Radiance" Podcast, it was a pleasure to connect with Chihiro Sato from Joslin Diabetes Center's Asian American Diabetes Initiative (AADI). For the past decade, she has served as a bilingual public health advocate, outreaching to diverse communities and providing health intervention and wellness programs, for the rising number of Asian Americans living with diabetes. As a former business consultant in Tokyo, Chihiro uses her business expertise to think outside the box when comes to empowering communities through culturally appropriate education about diabetes management and its prevention. She strongly believes that it is just as important to educate and interact with patients and members of the community as it is to engage healthcare professionals.
Chihiro is passionate about creating a variety of programs that can be easily adopted by the needs of each community. She enjoys meeting people and listening to their stories, which inspire her to develop and provide programs and tools to encourage healthier and happier lives.
If you are interested in learning more about the Asian American Diabetes Initiative, please visit Joslin's website.
Jun 29, 2019
Reclaiming Your Life and Living Strong / Thyroid Cancer
We’re talking about thyroid cancer with special guest, Trisha Mah. She is a survivor of papillary carcinoma, having had her thyroid removed in 2014. She's a fourth generation Japanese American and third generation Chinese American, born and raised in the Bay Area. She has devoted her life to youth empowerment and fighting for social justice. She has helped young people access and transition to college, trained teens to be advocates against domestic violence, and used the art of taiko (Japanese drumming) to promote respect for all. These days, you’ll find her as an academic counselor at the BU College of Engineering.
Trisha uses her story to let others know that cancer can look and feel many different ways on people. Committed to being “small and mighty,” Trisha continues to practice living a liberated and healthy life, especially after making the courageous decision to leave an abusive relationship after 6 years. She also is a strong advocate for taking control of one’s own health, encouraging others to ask questions when it comes to one’s overall health and well-being.
May 29, 2019
A Journey to Wellness: Holistic Health and Community / Suicide Prevention
In this episode, we discuss suicide prevention with our special guest, Jenney Szeto, who is a wellness coach and change maker, an inspiring video blogger and digital nomad, and athlete. She is well on her way to completing marathons across seven continents!
Jenney struggled with her identity, bouts of depression, and suicidal ideations as a young, second-generation, Chinese American woman,. She found her path to healing and resilience through therapy, meditation, and meaningful community connections. Today, she inspires others to live life joyfully by promoting a holistic approach to health and self-care, and encouraging a mindful spiritual practice.
Journey with Jenney!
facebook.com/journeywithjenney
Follow along with Asian Women for Health!
asianwomenforhealth.org
facebook.com/asianwomenforhealth
Apr 30, 2019
Pathways Forward: Awareness and Activism / Mental Health
We are delighted to speak with Dr. Pata Suyemoto, a feminist scholar, writer, educator, and a mental health advocate, as well as a champion for racial and social justice.
She is Co-Chair for the Greater Boston Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition and Chair of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention’s People of Color Caucus.
Through her work and lived experience with depression, she provides a voice to Asian American women who struggle with mental health, and she helps to foster compassion over the associated stigma.
BIO:
Pata earned her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and did her research on multicultural education and issues of race and racism. She is a member of a number of boards and committees, including the planning committee for the annual Asian American Mental Health Forum and the Department of Public Health’s Suicide Prevention Community Advisory Board. She is the Co-Chair for the Greater Boston Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Chair of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention’s People of Color Caucus.
Pata has spoken and written about her struggles with depression and is a co-founder of The Breaking Silences Project www.thebreakingsilencesproject.com, which is an artistic endeavor that educates about the high rates of depression and suicide among Asian American young women. She is also a long-time volunteer for Asian Women for Health and is a trainer and wellness coach for the Achieving Whole Health program. Her claim to fame is that she rode her bicycle across the country in the summer of 2012.
Additional Links:
The Breaking Silence Project: http://www.thebreakingsilencesproject.com/
Asian American Mental Health Forum: https://www.facebook.com/Asian-American-Mental-Health-Forum-410090306122850/
Mar 24, 2019
Mind Over Matter: Accepting and Adapting / Colorectal Cancer
We are delighted to speak with Chien-Chi Huang, Founder of the Asian Breast Cancer Project and Executive Director of Asian Women For Health. She is a trailblazer, a champion for communities of color, and a passionate patient advocate. Her work around gambling addiction, mental health, and breast cancer impact the lives of countless Asian families throughout the Commonwealth. In this podcast, she also shares her family’s experience with colorectal cancer and her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor.
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Chien-Chi Huang is the Founder of the Asian Breast Cancer Project and is presently the Executive Director of Asian Women for Health. Previously, she was the Asian Community Program Manager at the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.
She has spearheaded several new health initiatives addressing the unique issues and challenges facing the Asian American community, including: the Asian American Problem Gambling Outreach efforts, A…
Feb 19, 2019
Healing By Choice / Epilepsy
We are excited to speak with Jessica “Jay” Wong, a community advocate for social justice and youth programs, who understands the power in telling one’s narrative. She candidly shares her earlier struggles with cultural identity growing up as a mixed Asian in Fall River, Massachusetts, and her experience in living with epilepsy.
Jessica recently joined the administrative staff of the Asian American Commission. She also serves as a Life Coach for cis-gender males/transgender youth at Roxbury Youthworks in Boston.
Earlier on, she served as an AmeriCorps member for her community in Fall River, where she founded a young women’s empowerment group called W.A.V.E (Women, Action, Voice, Empowerment). In 2017, she was the youngest and first Asian American female to run for School Committee in Fall River.
She supports the Nearyroth Academy of Arts as a classical/folk Cambodian dancer, and volunteers with Asian Women for Health, the Chinese Progressive Association, and the Children’s…
Jan 31, 2019
Advocating For Your Health / Cervical Cancer
For this first podcast, we’re focusing on the subject of cervical cancer in recognition of National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. We are excited to speak with Ellie Nguyen, who works at Asian Women for Health as the Program Manager. She is also the founder of a media production company called 3arly July, and a former board member of Queens Talk, a monthly empowerment meetup for women of color. Ellie is a storyteller at heart, and her work is often found at the intersection of creativity and community. Through her innovative work and professional role as a wellness coach, she empowers others to embrace who they are, discover their voice, and walk in their truth.
Ellie facilitates cervical health workshops in the Asian community to provide culturally-relevant education on cervical health and to encourage Asian women to get their pap screening, as well as to offer support as peer health educators for family members and people in their community. Cervical cancer is ranked among the…