The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) will be hosting a 3-part learning series for health center clinicians and care team members to support  Preparedness for Diabetes Management During COVID-19 in partnership with members of the Pacific Islander Center for Excellence in Primary Care (PI-CoPCE). PI-CoPCE was established to improve the health of Pacific Islanders in the United States and U.S. Pacific through primary care support, research, workforce development, and community initiatives.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Increase awareness of the Pacific Islander COVID-19 Community Mobilization Response Plan.
2. Learn about key considerations to support medication management in the midst of COVID-19 for Pacific Islander patients with diabetes.
3. Provide tools and support to establish customized community health center response plans for COVID-19 that incorporate the needs of patients with diabetes.

Fee: NO COST/FREE.

Who Should Attend: Clinicians, nurses, care coordinators, and other key members of the health center care team supporting patients with diabetes.

Format: The following series will be available to a total of 8-10 health centers located in the US Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI).  Registration is required (see the registration link below). While sessions will be recorded, attendance during the webinar is strongly encouraged to maximize opportunities to engage with guest speakers.

See webinar resources below.

Speaker: Nia Aitaoto, PhD | Public Health Evaluator (RMI Cancer Program KCHC and AAPCHO) and Researcher (University of Utah and New York University)

Speaker Bio:

Nia Aitaoto, PhD is an indigenous Pacific Islander with more than 25 years of experience providing training and technical assistance to private and public funded programs (including CDC, HRSA and NIH) in the US and the US Pacific (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau). She is the founding advisor of international coalitions (Pacific Chronic Disease Coalition, Pacific Partnership for Tobacco Free Islands, and Faith in Action Research and Resource Alliance), and has extensive experience in mobilizing communities in the US and Pacific region. Dr. Aitaoto has conducted Pacific Islander health research and published articles on various topics, from health care systems to disease prevention and management. She has dedicated her career to improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific Islanders, and engaging in research is critical to accomplishing that goal. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Utah and Consultant for the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, the Pacific Islander Center for Primary Care Excellence, and several community-based organizations in the US and US Pacific.

Webinar Resources:

• Webinar Slides
• Webinar Recording

Session II: Diabetes Medication Medication Management and COVID-19

Guest Speaker: Raynald Samoa, MD

See webinar resources below.

Speaker: Raynald Samoa, MD | Clinician Researcher, City of Hope National Medical Center

Speaker Bio:

Raynald Samoa, MD, is a clinical research endocrinologist. He has a lifelong fascination with obesity related disorders and has parlayed that interest into research projects investigating the metabolic conditions that affect Native Hawai’ians and other Pacific Islanders.  Dr. Raynald Samoa received his medical degree from the University of Washington and completed his adult endocrinology fellowship at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California.   His primary major area of research includes modifying insulin resistance to prevent chronic diseases or improving chronic disease management such as diabetes and cancer via individualizing and culturally tailoring nutritional and exercise approaches.   Currently, he is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, California.

Webinar Resources:

• Webinar Slides
• Webinar Recording

Session III: Developing Your Health Center Response Plan: Lessons from the Field

Guest Speaker: Nia Aitaoto, PhD, Richard Trinidad, MD, Risa Yarborough, Program Manager and Malia Purdy, Programs Director, Malama I Ke Ola Health Center

Speakers:

• Richard Trinidad, MD | Medical Director, Sagip Community Life Center Inc.
• Malia Purdy, PhD | Programs Director, Malama I Ke Ola Health Center
• Risa Yarborough | Program Manager, Malama I Ke Ola Health Center
• Nia Aitaoto, PhD | Public Health Evaluator (RMI Cancer Program KCHC and AAPCHO) and Researcher (University of Utah and New York University

Speaker Bios: