May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month – a time to celebrate our fellow Americans and their rich cultures and experiences.

At Envision, we’re proud to recognize our multifaceted AAPI colleagues and the many ways they have contributed to patient care and the health of communities across the country. Our AAPI teammates reflect on their unique experiences and how their identities shaped their lives and careers.

Asha Padmanabhan, MD, FASA

Asha Padmanabhan, MD, FASA

Dr. Asha Padmanabhan is an anesthesiologist who practices in Boynton Beach, Florida. She’s been with Envision for seven years.

What does the Asian American experience look like and mean to you, and how may it differ from the experiences of other Asian Americans?
The term Asian American covers such a wide spectrum with diverse backgrounds and cultures. As an Asian American of Indian heritage, my experiences are in many ways different than those of other Asian Americans. For example, the recent wave of attacks against those perceived to be from East Asia was not felt as much within the Indian community, whereas hate crimes against Asian Americans after 9/11 were felt more by Indian Americans. I remember constantly reading reports of innocent young Indian males targeted, harassed and even killed because they were mistaken for terrorists based on their physical appearance.

When you tell your story, what do you hope people take away from your experience?
While there are many exceptions, I do wish people were more open to learning about and engaging with other cultures and people from diverse backgrounds. When we discover the person behind the external appearance, we see that we have more commonalities than differences. America is a melting pot. If we all embrace cultural diversity rather than resist what is different or unknown, we can create a truly beautiful society. In the end, we all have the same hopes, dreams and aspirations for ourselves and our children. It is my hope that we can all co-exist peacefully.

Given the recent violence and discrimination against the AAPI community, how can other communities show allyship?
Acknowledging that there is a problem would be the first step. Then, talk to your Asian American colleagues about their experiences and what they are facing. Validate their experiences rather than dismissing them. Lastly, keep your eyes open and call out any instances you see of discrimination. I find many problems happen because of a lack of understanding or knowledge rather than malicious intent.

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Mahesh Thummala, MD, MRCP, FAAP

Mahesh Thummala, MD, MRCP, FAAP

Dr. Mahesh Thummala is a Regional Medical Director of Neonatology at Envision. He cares for the Plano, Texas, community and has been with the medical group for more than 20 years.

The term AAPI includes individuals from many countries, cultures, traditions and faiths. Can you share a little more about your background or how you identify?
I am from Hyderabad, a major cosmopolitan city in South India. South India is progressive. It tends to be matriarchal, well-educated, English-language proficient and economically developed compared to the rest of India. I am a Hindu, which is the majority religion, and consider education to be the path to upward mobility.

How is your Asian American identity embedded into your personal story and career?
Family values and the feeling of community were embedded into my upbringing, which instilled in me the core belief of placing care for others before oneself. Growing up in a lower-middle-class family, I understood early on that hard work and a sound education were the keys to upward mobility. I worked to gain admission to an intensely competitive medical school.

That foundation of hard work and grit laid the groundwork for many competitive challenges I faced, especially as an immigrant in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Along the way, my Hindu faith encouraged me to become more open-minded and adopt some of the good values seen in the societies where I was living. Today, I consider myself to be well-accultured to American society and try to embody the best of Indian and American values!

Can you share why it’s important to learn about the rich diversity within the Asian American community?
Due to the rich diversity of India – with 100 languages, 37 provinces and 1.4 billion people, we strive to live and let live. We are immersed in diversity in everyday life and have open minds. Welcoming the good in other religions, people and cultures becomes second nature – hence, tolerance becomes innate.

Given the recent violence and discrimination against the AAPI community, how can other communities show allyship?
I believe most acts of discrimination are because of ignorance and fear of the unknown. Educating our society about other communities’ customs, traditions, religions and contributions to the greater good is an important step to helping grow awareness and appreciation for diversity.

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Giselle Joines, BSN, RN

Giselle Joines, BSN, RN

Giselle Joines is the Director of Center Applications at AMSURG. Giselle is a registered nurse based in Lebanon, Tennessee, and has been with AMSURG for three years.

The term AAPI includes individuals from many countries, cultures, traditions and faiths. Can you share a little more about your background or how you identify?
I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. The Philippines is composed of 7,640 islands, with Manila being the capital. The country is in Southeast Asia, so Filipinos are considered Asians. Notably, the Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia, with 80 percent of people identifying as Catholic. We were a Spanish colony for more than three centuries, which shaped our culture, traditions and religion. The two official languages are Filipino and English, and we are the third-largest group of English speakers in the world.

What stereotypes commonly associated with your culture do you feel are important to address and dispel?
The Philippines is considered a developing country, so one of the misconceptions is that the education system is not on par with that of Western countries. The U.S. colonization of the Philippines in the 1940s had a formative impact on developing the modern education system, with English as the official language in schools. The country produces a lot of professionals and is known as the largest exporter of nurses worldwide. We value our education because we want to continuously grow in knowledge to help ourselves, our families and our country.

What holidays, traditions and customs are most meaningful to you?
Our culture is very diverse and includes a mixture of Spanish, American and Asian influences. The most meaningful for me are the Christian holidays. We love to celebrate Christmas because it is the time when families reunite in love and prayer and do things together with much fun, food and festivities.

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Peter Q Lee, DO, FACEP

Peter Q Lee, DO, FACEP

Dr. Peter Lee is an emergency physician serving as an Advanced Regional Lead Coach at Envision. He is based in Montville, New Jersey, and has been with Envision for seven years.

How is your Asian American identity embedded into your personal story and career?
My parents came to this country in the 1980s for my father’s doctorate degree. We were living on a student salary, and I witnessed my parents working multiple jobs and studying at the same time. As Chinese immigrants hoping to one day become American citizens, their wish was to better themselves and their children’s future while working in the land of opportunity. Their grit and perseverance, along with my learning about the benefits of American healthcare, made me want to pursue a career in medicine.

Can you share why it’s important to learn about the rich diversity within the Asian American community?
America is a melting pot of different cultures, traditions and practices. This is what makes this country so unique and wonderful. Asian Americans account for a growing percentage of American citizens, and we all have something to bring to the table. In addition to our rich diversity, many of us carry with us the stories of our ancestors, which push us to constantly better ourselves and our country.

When you tell your story, what do you hope people take away from your experiences?
I want people to know that while many of us identify with a certain nationality or background, we are proud of our ethnicity and heritage and equally proud to be Americans. This is our home, too.

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Antony Hsu, MD, FACEP

Antony Hsu, MD, FACEP

Dr. Antony Hsu is an emergency physician at Envision and the Post-Arrest Care Task Force Chair at his hospital. He’s been with the medical group for five years and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

What does the Asian American experience look like and mean to you, and how may it differ from the experiences of other Asian Americans?
Having been born in San Antonio, Texas, there were both good and bad media-generated stereotypes associated with being an Asian American in the South. I was mostly able to clarify these when encountering them in person. Although initially desiring to be “just a normal Texan,” I came to appreciate my cultural heritage and recognize how it could comfortably fit my identity. I now happily teach my children about their father’s ancestry whenever I can.

Mandarin classes helped me connect with other Asian Americans but having immigrant parents (Taiwanese father and Malaysian mother), I saw many differences within our respective cultures. I do believe both the Eastern and Western elements of my identity enable me to approach the many current and historical changes the U.S. is experiencing from multiple perspectives.

What stereotypes commonly associated with your culture do you feel are important to address and dispel?
A common stereotype associated with being of Taiwanese and Malaysian ancestry is that we place academics above everything else. Ever since grade school, I felt a balance of priorities was necessary to strive for sustainable excellence. I continue to advocate for balance with my clinical practice, my patients and my peers.

I would like to emphasize the importance of service in my life. I was a Boy Scout growing up, actively supporting my hospital and neighborhood. I have also served my country as a medical officer in the National Disaster Medical System and as an American College of Emergency Physicians Committee Chair.

Given the recent violence and discrimination against the AAPI community, how can other communities show allyship?
Political representation will be increasingly important. Allying with other communities that also face discrimination can help build a robust foundation for state and national legislation that will tackle the discrimination affecting us all. Perhaps a strategy promoting service across high-need communities may bring people from different backgrounds together, helping promote diversity and awareness.

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Linda Ho, MD

Linda Ho, MD

Dr. Linda Ho is an obstetrics and gynecology physician based in Plano, Texas. She has been with Envision for 13 years.

What does the Asian American experience look like and mean to you, and how may it differ from the experiences of other Asian Americans?
My experience is probably quite different from the typical Asian American who, or whose family, has emigrated from an Asian nation. Since I am part Japanese, part Spanish and part Chamorro (people native to the Mariana Islands), and I was born and raised in the Marianas Islands, my experience is at least as much Pacific Islander as it is Asian American. My parents and I became U.S. citizens in 1967 while living in Guam. I was 11, and I remember passing the citizenship exam and being thrilled at the prospect of becoming an American.

The term AAPI includes individuals from many countries, cultures, traditions and faiths. Can you share a little more about your background or how you identify?
My dad is from Yokohama, Japan, and my mom is from Saipan, an island in the Northern Mariana Islands, and is a descendant of Basque (Spanish) Catholic missionaries in Asia. At home, she spoke Chamorro but attended a Japanese school and became fluent in the language. She also learned English after World War II. My father was Japanese and attended a Jesuit Catholic School in Tokyo where he learned English. My parents spoke Japanese to each other, but primarily English to my siblings and me. Our family blends many of the elements of the Japanese and Chamorro cultures – food, language and values. I was raised Catholic, and those strong Christian roots are still evident and active in my non-denominational Christian faith.

What stereotypes commonly associated with your culture do you feel are important to address and dispel?
I think a common perception of Asian physicians is that they are methodical but impersonal and unemotional, which would make them seem uncaring. Like many in the AAPI community, I consider myself caring and nurturing while also analytical and precise.

Another harmful stereotype associated with Asians/Islanders, as in many other cultures, is that women are not as well-suited for certain professions as men. My father was very old-fashioned. He did not believe women needed to have careers. I had to make my own way through many educational and professional challenges, beginning with having to earn full-ride scholarships to attend college and medical school. It was quite an uphill battle in the 1970s.

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Bao Pham, MD

Bao Pham, MD

Dr. Bao Pham is a family medicine physician caring for the Dallas, Texas, community. He joined Envision at the end of 2020.

What does the Asian American experience look like and mean to you, and how may it differ from the experiences of other Asian Americans?
For me, the Asian American experience is fundamentally one of opportunity. America is one of the few places in the world where talent, hard work and a little luck will determine your future and prosperity. This is not the case in much of the world.

The term AAPI includes individuals from many countries, cultures, traditions and faiths. Can you share a little more about your background or how you identify?
My parents are Vietnamese and, while I was born in Vietnam, I like to consider myself a Texan. The seven years I spent in West Texas have strongly influenced my identity. My parents lived in Southern Vietnam for six years under an autocratic restrictive Communist regime. Thus, they fiercely believe in freedom, democracy, capitalism and American exceptionalism. They also impressed on me a strong respect for Vietnamese culture and food, respect for the elderly and commitment to duty, society and family.

Can you share why it’s important to learn about the rich diversity within the Asian American community?
Many AAPI cultures have existed for thousands of years, yet it is often hard for people to differentiate between societies and their traditions. For example, the approach to business and family for a Chinese person is very different from that of a Japanese person. This also applies to medicine. In certain cultures, traditional and complementary medical practices are highly valued. I think it is important to leverage those tools when caring for patients. It is important to recognize that the way a Vietnamese person is going to approach their healthcare may be very different than someone from another Asian country.

What stereotypes commonly associated with your culture do you feel are important to address and dispel?
I think the stereotype that Asians are one homogenous culture is harmful and should be addressed. We should recognize the uniqueness and diversity of people from different AAPI countries, like how we would of those from, for example, Western European countries.

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Envision Chief Medical Officer Chan Chuang

Chan Chuang, MD, FCCP, FACP

Dr. Chan Chuang is the Chief Medical Officer at Envision Healthcare. He is experienced in internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care. He joined Envision at the beginning of 2020 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

The term AAPI includes individuals from many countries, cultures, traditions and faiths. Can you share a little more about your background or how you identify?
I immigrated to the United States at a young age due to political reasons, eventually settling in Southern California. I was born in Taiwan, where most of my family continues to reside. Growing up in the States, however, I was often aggregated as Chinese for people to understand my background more easily, as it can be challenging explaining to folks what being Taiwanese means. As I have spent most of my life as a U.S. citizen, I truly identify as a Taiwanese or Asian American.

Family heritage is essential. Always remembering where I come from, paying respect to the traditions I was taught and living with humility are especially important. I was raised to learn and practice Buddhist philosophies, particularly principles of karma and treating others how one wishes to be treated.

What does the Asian American experience look like and mean to you, and how may it differ from the experiences of other Asian Americans?
When I arrived in the U.S., I did not know any English, and I recall being embarrassed by my inability to understand and respond to basic questions like, “What’s your name?” Thanks to a great English as a Second Language program at my school, I solved for that language gap within a few years. There remained cultural barriers that took longer to bridge, leading to challenges relating to being treated as an “outsider” during my youth.

Growing up, I also faced constant stereotypes and labels commonly associated with Asian Americans. I believe, however, that these have diminished in California as the population there continues to diversify, and people become more aware of different identities and backgrounds.

Despite the circumstances I faced, I recognize I was blessed to have greater access to resources and support where I lived. I was much more fortunate than many other immigrant friends who were refugees and had no legal status. Nevertheless, self-reliance has always been essential to my upbringing as well as resiliency in the face of adversity and challenges. Those attributes have helped my advancement and success throughout school, my medical training and career.

What holidays, traditions and customs are most meaningful to you?
Holidays, traditions and customs center around gathering with family and, of course, celebrating our culture of food! The Lunar New Year is probably the most important and well-recognized one among those traditions. The wonderful thing about celebrating diversity and culture is that we can learn about traditions and holidays that are perhaps less known. Here are a few recognized and celebrated in my family:

  • Tomb Sweeping Day in April – Families reunite to remember and pay their respects to ancestors and elders who have passed and offer up their favorite dishes.
  • Dragon Boat Festival in June – The tradition is to have fun, compete and eat sticky dumplings.
  • Autumn Moon Festival in September – We gather to watch the full moon rise, recite poems, have tea and eat a traditional baked good called a mooncake.