By Haoyu Zhao, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, TeamHealth Post-Acute Care
What Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month means to me
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. During this month every year, we celebrate the achievements and remember the struggles Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) endured.
I was born and raised in Southern China. I came to the states for college, and learning that the country I came to live in celebrates my own cultures deeply touches my heart. Reading the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reminds me of my own path to start a new life in this country. From small things like getting my driver’s license, figuring out how to choose and use insurance, to achieving academic success in college using a foreign language and developing meaningful friendship with people from different backgrounds, I was adapting to a completely different system on my own at school and in life.
Like many of our AAPI ancestors, the path has been full of obstacles and sacrifices, but we never lose hope and continue to appreciate the friendships and accomplishments we receive in this journey.
Diversity in my job
I work as an advanced practice clinician in the post-acute care setting, and in my experience, the patient population has been diverse. The unique needs and beliefs of health from different age and ethnicity groups bring challenges to contemplating a well-rounded treatment plan for my patients. I am glad that I can work with a diverse, multidisciplinary team to overcome these challenges and provide the most suitable care for our patients.
The healthcare field has always been stressful, especially during the pandemic era, but TeamHealth creates an inclusive and respectful culture that allows all of us to flourish and grow. I am confident in the future as we found inspiration in our heritage and the company’s embrace of shared values.
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