President’s Message
Dear AAPINA Colleagues,
Greetings from Irvine, California!
I am deeply honored to commence this new year serving as the President of our AAPINA. I extend my
heartfelt wishes to you and your loved ones for a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2024. First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Jing Wang, who served as President from 2022-2023, and Immediate Past President Dr. Eun-Ok Im for their exceptional leadership in advancing our AAPINA and elevating its recognition both nationally and internationally.
During my term as President-Elect over the past two years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with
incredibly talented AAPINA members. Together, we successfully organized our international joint conference with the Taiwan Nurses Association and the World Academy of Nursing Science (WANS) in 2022, followed by an in-person meeting for the 2023 AAPINA conference in Los Angeles, California. The 2023 conference achieved a historic record of highest attendance and revenue generation. More
importantly, it provided a platform for domestic and international AAPINA members to share their
research, teaching, and community contributions, fostering meaningful networking opportunities. I extend my sincere appreciation to all contributors and sponsors who contributed to the success of this national and international conference. This year, we are planning the 2024 AAPINA Joint International
Conference with the Catholic University of Korea and AAPINA Korean Chapter in Seoul, Korea.
Looking ahead, we aim to hold our 2025 AAPINA conference in Hawaii to further engage with the
Pacific Islander community.
Throughout the enduring COVID-19 pandemic, we have dedicated ourselves to supporting our communities. As a nurse, I take immense pride in being part of one of the most trusted professions in the
United States and globally. Our organization has played a vital role in providing resources and support to
reduce health disparities during the pandemic, and we remain committed to advancing health equity for
all by closely collaborating with partnering organizations such as NCEMNA, ANA, and WANS.
In pursuit of our missions and goals, I am committed to continuing our efforts to support AAPINA
members in achieving success in their nursing careers as researchers, educators, practitioners, community
advocates, and leaders. However, I cannot accomplish this alone. I encourage each of you to actively
contribute your time and expertise, as together, we can make meaningful contributions to society.
Thank you for your dedication and support.
Best regards,
Jung-Ah Lee, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN
President, Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association, Inc. (AAPINA)
Board of Directors, National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Association (NCEMNA)
Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, Inclusion
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine