AAPCHO Regional Middle America Health Center Gathering

Cedar Rapids, IA US
June 11, 2025

Overview

Registration


This is a private course, and registrations are not being accepted.
 

Target Audience

Health Center workforce

Purpose

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and the National Association of Pasifika Organizations will host a one-day regional gathering for the health center workforce. This regional gathering will occur within Middle America and be open to anyone in the continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, or the Pasifika Region. 

Similarly to the Pacific Islander (PI) region, rural states in Middle America are often excluded from research, opportunities, and resources. This gathering will convene the health center workforce to uplift regional promising practices for understanding and meeting the unique health needs of the growing population of PI patients in Middle America. 

Learning Objectives

  • Integrate knowledge of non-medical factors of health impacting Pacific Islander (PI) patients into patient-centered care. 
  • Increase the capacity and readiness of the health center workforce to support and serve PI patients.
  • Implement strategies to improve whole-person health outcomes through comprehensive community engagement.
  • Deliver patient-centered care to meet the unique needs of PI health center patients.

Agenda

All times are listed in Central Time. The agenda is subject to change.

TimeSession
9:00 amWelcome and Why Are We Here
Discussion and Share Out
9:45 amBreak
10:00 am

Understanding Pasifika and Community Health Center Strategies for Improving Preventive Services

This training will describe effective quality improvement and prevention strategies centered around the patient experience and community voice, including healing-centered care and addressing health-related social needs. It will also offer a compendium of resources, including lessons learned, promising practices, resources, and recommendations for health centers to develop and implement preventive services interventions and strategies for health center patients.

    Nia Aitaota, PhD, MPH
    Executive Director, National Association of Pasifika Organizations
    Senior Consultant, Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence
    Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah College of Health
    Adjunct Faculty, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine
    Principal Investigator, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research in Transforming Health and Health Care Systems

    1. Describe unique experiences of Pasifika patients that impact access to care, non-medical factors of health, and community-based needs. 
    2. Explore tools, resources, and recommendations for health centers to develop and implement preventive services interventions and strategies for Pasifika health center patients.
    3. Share quality improvement and prevention strategies to advance healing-centered care and address health-related needs. 
    10:45 amBreak
    11:00 am

    Community Health Workforce Role in Preventive Services Outreach to Address Environmental Drivers of Health

    Community health workers (CHWs) are key stakeholders for advancing health center excellence and improving outreach and engagement to meet patients where they are to address health-related social needs. This in-person training will improve access to training for the health center workforce through case studies demonstrating considerations, practical tips, and resources for improving preventive services access and outcomes among health center patients. This session will also promote training, certification, and continuing education opportunities for CHWs.   

    Ailing Gideon, CHW
    Special Programs Coordinator and Community Health Worker, Community Clinic
    Board Member, Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese

    1. Explore case studies demonstrating impacts, considerations, and tips for Pasifika patients navigating environmental and structural barriers to accessing care. 
    2. Explain the CHW's role in addressing patient needs through patient-centered service delivery.
    3. Discuss practical tips and resources for improving preventive services and outcomes by addressing transportation and other DOH needs.
    12:00 pmLunch
    2:00 pm

    Health Center Supports for Patient-Centered Diabetes Prevention

    Given the high prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, there is an increased need for early detection, prevention, and management efforts. This training will address diabetes through the lens of social interventions. The training aims to share social, medical, and structural health needs and how the built environment, language access, mental health, and maternal health impact diabetes prevention and management. This session will also promote resources to support health center performance improvement and transformation efforts that help health centers manage diabetes and other chronic diseases.

    Nia Aitaota, PhD, MPH
    Executive Director, National Association of Pasifika Organizations
    Senior Consultant, Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence
    Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah College of Health
    Adjunct Faculty, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
    Principal Investigator, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research in Transforming Health and Health Care Systems

    1. Describe diabetes prevention through the lens of non-medical interventions. 
    2. Explore community-based, medical, and structural health needs and how the built environment, language access, and mental health impact diabetes prevention and management.  
    3. Promote Pasifika-specific resources (PI-DPP) to support health center performance improvement and transformation efforts that help health centers manage diabetes.
    3:00 pmBreak
    3:10 pm

    Improving Maternal and Child Health Through Health Centers as Access Points

    This training will equip healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge to enhance maternal and child health for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (Pasifika) communities, who often access healthcare for the first time during crucial periods like pregnancy and early childhood. For many in these communities, health center visits may be their first interaction with the healthcare system, making it essential to offer relevant and supportive care during this pivotal time. Community health centers also have a unique opportunity to address non-medical drivers of health, like housing and education, leading to better long-term health outcomes. This training will empower health centers to play a vital role in fostering better health outcomes through comprehensive, culturally sensitive care and community engagement.     

    Rebecca Delafield, PhD, MPH
    Assistant Professor, Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine
    Research Awardee, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Institute

    1. Explore strategies to leverage programs such as the WIC program, Well Baby Clinics, and Medicaid reimbursement to improve access to essential care for Pasifika families. 
    2. Explain how to implement preventive health screenings, deliver effective patient education, manage complex care, and address health-related social needs in a culturally sensitive manner. 
    3. Discuss pathways for providers to promote healthier pregnancies, improve early childhood development, and contribute to long-term positive health outcomes for Pacific Islander communities.
    4:10 pmBreak
    4:20 pm

    Small Group Discussion, Brainstorm, and Share Out Swim Lanes

    5:00 pmAdjourn
    Course summary
    Available credit: 
    • 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
    • 5.25 AOA Category 2­A
    • 5.25 CE Contact Hour(s)
    • 5.25 IBON
    Course opens: 
    06/11/2025
    Course expires: 
    06/11/2025
    Event starts: 
    06/11/2025 - 9:00am CDT
    Event ends: 
    06/11/2025 - 5:00pm CDT
    Cost:
    $0.00
    Rating: 
    0

    Location

    Double Tree Cedar Rapids
    350 1st Ave NE
    Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
    United States

    Speaker(s)

    Nia Aitaota, PhD, MPH
    Executive Director, National Association of Pasifika Organizations
    Senior Consultant, Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence
    Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah College of Health
    Adjunct Faculty, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine
    Principal Investigator, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research in Transforming Health and Health Care Systems

    Biography

    Rebecca Delafield, PhD, MPH
    Assistant Professor, Department of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine
    Research Awardee, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Institute

    Biography

    Ailing Gideon, CHW
    Special Programs Coordinator and Community Health Worker, Community Clinic
    Board Member, Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese

    Biograph

    CE Credits

    Accreditation Statements

    • MD: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Iowa Medical Society (IMS) through the joint providership of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences (DMU) and Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations. DMU is accredited by the IMS to provide continuing medical education for physicians. DMU designates this live activity for 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
    • DO: Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences (DMU) is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. DMU designates this activity for a maximum of 5.25 AOA Category 2-A credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.
    • Nurses: Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences is Iowa Board of Nursing approved provider #112. This activity has been reviewed and approved for 5.25 continuing education contact hour(s). Nurses must attend the entire session to receive credit. Partial session credit is prohibited and will be forfeited.
    • Other healthcare providers: This activity is designated for 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.

    Educational Grants

    No ineligible company provided financial support for this continuing education activity.

    Disclosures

    The speaker(s) will disclose if any pharmaceuticals, medical procedures, or devices discussed are investigational or unapproved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The activity director is responsible for determining educational content and selecting speakers.

    Relevant to the content of this educational activity, the following individual(s) have no conflict(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Nia Aitaoto, PhD, MPH - Planning Committee Member and Speaker
    • Nashia Choudhury, MPH - Activity Director and Planning Committee Member
    • Rebecca Delafield, PhD, MPH - Speaker
    • Ailing Gideon, CHW - Speaker
    • Cara Skillingstead, CCHP - Activity Director and Planning Committee Member

    Disclaimer

    The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. 

    Available Credit

    • 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
    • 5.25 AOA Category 2­A
    • 5.25 CE Contact Hour(s)
    • 5.25 IBON

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    Price

    Cost:
    $0.00
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    This is a private course, and registrations are not being accepted.