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Welcome to June!
Summer is here, and with it comes exciting momentum! Our team is hard at work planning SAPHA’s inaugural gala, a celebration of community, culture, and collective impact.A big thank you to everyone who responded to our
recent survey
on what you'd like to see in our first conference. Your feedback and ideas are helping shape a truly meaningful and inclusive event.
As we celebrate Pride Month, we honor the resilience and contributions of our LGBTQ+ South Asian community members and reaffirm our commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging in public health.
We also invite you to read
SAPHA’s statement condemning the attacks in Kashmir
standing in solidarity with those affected and reaffirming our values of health, justice, and peace for all.
Stay tuned for more updates and ways to get involved as we head into a vibrant season of planning and connection!
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⚡
SAPHA Conference Theme Reveal!
⚡
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We’re thrilled to announce SAPHA’s first-ever national conference,
By Us, For Us: Shaping the Future of South Asian Public Health
, taking place on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the
George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health
in Washington, DC.
This milestone event will bring together South Asian public health professionals, researchers, students, clinicians, and community leaders from across the country to advance the health and well-being of our communities.
Through sessions on community-based research, AI and health tech, policy advocacy, narrative power, and sustainable partnerships, we’ll explore how to drive meaningful systems change while honoring the trailblazers who built the field and uplifting the next generation of leaders.
Join us to gain insights, tools, and connections to help shape a more equitable and thriving future for South Asian public health.
Mark your calendars — ticket sales begin early July!
✅
Follow our social media and website for details!
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Workshop Recap: The Hidden Costs of the Model Minority Myth:Advocating for Economic Justice in South Asian Communities
On May 29, SAPHA hosted an impactful workshop,
“The Hidden Costs of the Model Minority Myth: Advocating for Economic Justice in South Asian Communities,”
led by Sydelle Barreto, MA, Policy Manager at
NAPAWF
.
The workshop highlighted how economic disparities within South Asian communities affect health outcomes and how we can all play a role in advancing equity.
✅
Read the full recap and watch the recording on our website!
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📢
Calling all DC-Metro Area Community Members!
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🚨
New Publication: The Power of Physicians in Dangerous Times
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In a recent
New England Journal of Medicine
(NEJM) perspective, former Surgeon General,
Dr. Vivek Murthy
and
Dr. Alice Chen
, a primary care internist in Washington, DC, and former executive director of
Doctors for America
,
urge physicians to recognize their unique responsibility and power amid today’s escalating societal challenges. From threats to public health infrastructure to growing health inequities and attacks on science, the authors call on healthcare providers to step beyond traditional roles.
Dr. Murthy and Dr. Chen emphasize that inaction is not neutral. Physicians must advocate for evidence-based policies, defend marginalized communities, and engage civically to protect the health of both patients and the broader public. Their message is clear: in dangerous times, the voice of medicine must be
both clinical and civic.
✅
Read the full article on the NEJM website
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🌈
Organization Spotlight:
Desi Rainbow Parents and Allies
🌈
Desi Rainbow Parents and Allies (DRPA)
works to provide affirming spaces for South Asian LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families to talk about issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation. Desi Rainbow provides a
wide variety of programming
including monthly support groups (led by volunteers who are themselves LGBTQIA+ or parents and allies), speaking engagements, summer gatherings, and inclusive Desi celebrations.
Started in 2020 by the parent of an LGBTQIA+ child seeking culturally appropriate support, Desi Rainbow celebrates its 5th anniversary this year having and continuing to fill gaps by being one of the only organizations providing support, education advocacy, and community building at a national level for South Asian LGBTQIA+ individuals, families and their communities.
For more details on their accomplishments including personal testimonials, check out their
2024 Impact Report
.
✅ You can follow Desi Rainbow’s incredible work by checking them out on
X (formerly Twitter)
,
Instagram
,
YouTube
,
TikTok
,
LinkedIn
, and
Facebook
.
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🧠
Alzheimer’s Disease International:
From Plan to Impact VIII
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Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)
has released its 2025 report,
From Plan to Impact VIII
, offering a critical assessment of global progress on dementia policy as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia nears its scheduled conclusion. This report underscores the urgency for renewed international commitment and action.
Key Findings:
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Slow Progress on National Dementia Plans (NDPs): As of May 2025, only 45 WHO Member States have implemented NDPs, representing just 30.8% of the 146 countries targeted by the WHO. Including non-member states, the total rises to 53.
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Regional Disparities: Europe leads with 21 NDPs, followed by the Americas and the Western Pacific with nine each. The Eastern Mediterranean has four, Southeast Asia two, and notably, Africa has none.
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Rising Prevalence: Dementia affects over 55 million people globally, a number projected to nearly triple to 139 million by 2050.
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Mortality Impact: Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and is expected to become the third by 2040.
Call to Action:
With the Global Action Plan set to expire in 2025, ADI is advocating for a six-year extension to 2031. In January 2025, 22 governments supported this extension, but its approval remains uncertain. ADI urges WHO Member States to reaffirm their commitment to addressing dementia as a global health priority.
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📣 Call for Study Participants!
🧠
Indian immigrant transnational caregiving for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (ADRD)
Research Institution:
Yale University
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Are you an immigrant to the United States from the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, or Andhra Pradesh?
Do you provide or manage care for a relative in India diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease?
We are conducting a research study at Yale to better understand and support the unique experiences of Indian immigrant caregivers.
If eligible, you will be invited to:
• Complete a brief (10-minute) online survey
• Participate in a 1-hour virtual interview
Your responses will be confidential, and participation is voluntary.
✅ To learn more or participate, scan the QR code or
click here
.
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.
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