Asian American / Pacific Islander
Nurses Association, Inc.

Affiliation to National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations (NCEMNA)

NCEMNA is a unified force advocating for equity and justice in nursing and health care for ethnic minority populations. The Asian American / Pacific Islander Nurses is a proud affiliate of NCEMNA.

President’s Message

Dear AAPINA Colleagues,


Happy New Year and warm greetings as we begin 2026 together. It is with deep gratitude and a strong sense of responsibility that I write to you as President of AAPINA. I am truly honored to follow the dedicated leadership of our past presidents and executive committee members, whose vision, commitment, and service have strengthened our organization and positioned AAPINA for continued growth and impact.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Jung-Ah Lee, our immediate Past President, for her outstanding leadership and stewardship of AAPINA. Her dedication has helped advance our mission and sustain the collegial and supportive culture that defines our community. I am also delighted to lead AAPINA alongside an exceptional executive team: Dr. Donna Palakiko, President-Elect; Dr. Kristen Choi, Vice President; Dr. Hyunhwa Henna Lee, Secretary; and Dr. Ha Do Byon, Treasurer. Together, we are committed to strengthening AAPINA’s visibility, leadership capacity, and impact.

Looking ahead, I am pleased to share two important opportunities for our community to convene and engage in 2026. First, the 2026 AAPINA Annual Conference will be held July 9–10, 2026, at Chaminade University of Honolulu. We are deeply grateful to the AAPINA Hawaii Chapter and to our colleagues who are working collaboratively to plan what promises to be an inspiring and meaningful gathering in Hawaiʻi.

This conference will offer rich opportunities for scholarly exchange, mentorship, and community building.
In addition, I encourage your participation in the 2026 NCEMNA Conference, which will take place April 9–10, 2026, at The California Endowment in Los Angeles. This national conference represents an important forum for dialogue, partnership, and leadership in nurse midwifery and maternal health, and I hope many of you will join.

AAPINA may be a small organization in size, but we are mighty in purpose, impact, and solidarity. I am deeply thankful for your continued dedication, scholarship, mentorship, and service. Together, we will continue to elevate nursing leadership, advance science, and support one another with compassion and resolve.

I look forward to working with you throughout the year and to seeing many of you at our upcoming meetings and conferences.

With gratitude and best wishes for health and happiness,

Brian Ahn, PhD, APRN, FAAN
President, AAPINA