White Coats and Rice: An APAMSA Podcast
White Coats and Rice: An APAMSA Podcast
Podcast Description
The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is a national organization that aims to promote the health and well-being of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, help healthcare workers understand how to care for AANHPI patients in a culturally sensitive manner, and provide a forum for AANHPI medical and premed students develop personally and professionally. Our podcast will explore our community through roundtable discussions, conversations with leaders in healthcare, and chats with current leaders and alumni of our organization.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the health and well-being of the AANHPI community, cultural sensitivity in healthcare, and personal development for AANHPI medical and premed students. Episodes delve into themes such as health policy involvement, medical specialties like psychiatry and emergency surgery, and personal stories of APAMSA leaders, including discussions on advocacy and demystifying the medical field.

The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is a national organization that aims to promote the health and well-being of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, help healthcare workers understand how to care for AANHPI patients in a culturally sensitive manner, and provide a forum for AANHPI medical and premed students develop personally and professionally. Our podcast will explore our community through roundtable discussions, conversations with leaders in healthcare, and chats with current leaders and alumni of our organization.
This episode of White Coats and Rice features Sean Tiwanak, a former respiratory therapist, heart transplant survivor, and musician from Honolulu, Hawaii. In celebration of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Sean reflects on his journey from caring for patients to experiencing severe heart failure and transplantation himself. He shares how his background in respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary medicine helped him recognize the seriousness of his condition and navigate life as a patient. Sean also discusses healthcare barriers facing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, the importance of listening to patients, and the role of empathy and human connection in medicine. The episode highlights how compassion, resilience, and “bringing aloha” can shape the way future healthcare professionals care for others.
Full transcript of this episode: https://www.apamsa.org/apamsa-podcast
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Website: https://www.apamsa.org
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalapamsa
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalapamsa
This episode was produced by Herbie Villaflores, hosted by Herbie Villaflores, and graphic by Romi Sheng.

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