Description

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, yet their diverse health needs remain understudied, both nationally and in Washington State, where they represent nearly 10% of the population. Despite more than a quarter of incoming UW medical students and undergraduate freshmen identifying as Asian American, there is no dedicated center focused on their unique health challenges.

The establishment of the Asian Health Research Center (AHRC) represents a university-wide effort to close this gap. The Center will bring together faculty, students, and community partners across the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work, Dentistry, and other disciplines to advance multidisciplinary research, education, and community engagement. By integrating expertise from biomedical, behavioral, social, and data sciences, AHRC will foster innovative, community-engaged research that recognizes the diversity within Asian populations and addresses disparities in health risks, disease patterns, and access to care.

Leveraging UW’s broad strengths and deep community connections, the AHRC will serve as a hub for collaborative scholarship, training, and outreach, advancing prevention, care, and health equity for Asian Americans across the region and the nation.

The AHRC will be co-directed by Drs. Eugene Yang and James Floyd and will be administratively based in the Division of Cardiology. Dr. Yang brings extensive experience in cardiovascular disease prevention, health equity, and community engagement, while Dr. Floyd is a physician-epidemiologist with a strong record of leading large, multidisciplinary population health studies. Together, they will guide the Center’s research, education, and training efforts, fostering collaboration across UW schools and with community partners to advance Asian health.

Partners

UW Seattle, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, School of Social Work