FUSIA/CCIP students visited New York University Medical Center where they met with the staff and interns of the Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH). The group discussed the broad topic of Asian American health, focusing on the challenges of the Asian American Community, general healthcare, and how the nonprofit sector targets the community. Ms. Henreitta Ho-Asjoe, CSAAH Administrator and Director of Community Development, began the discussion with an introduction to the organization.

CSAAH is one of four organizations under the NYU institute of Community Health and Research (while the others are the Center for the Health of the African Diaspora, the Center for Latino Health and the Center for Health and Human Rights). CSAAH's mission is to reduce the health disparities in the Asian American community through research, training and partnership.

Through the discussion, the students learned that the challenges facing the Asian American community and the source of the disparity in Asian American Health is because the topic receives little attention from policy makers. Asian Americans' status as the model minority has rendered them and their issues almost publicly invisible – healthcare issues in their community barely register in the mainstream public consciousness.

Asjoe highlighted the high stress levels and suicide rates of Asian Americans. New immigrants especially suffer from work-related stress and depression. Often they have no healthy outlets. Second, they can also feel completely isolated either because they can't speak English or don't know how or who to reach out to in the community.

Elizabeth Kay, president of Fusia Communications, Inc. and founder of FUSIA/CCIP added her insight and questions into the mix. ''Although the situation is bleak, things should improve as the second generation adapts to the mainstream culture. What does the situation look like for second generation Asian Americans?''

"The second generation has a lot to deal with as well; the obvious stressor being the balancing act they must play between Asian and American culture. Being pulled in two directions, having to deal with culture clashes, and shouldering the burden of their family's expectations that they will become highly successful have had their ill effects. Their teen suicide rate is 15% to 24%." added Asjoe.

FUSIA/CCIP students got a much closer look at the issues of Asian American communities. Toward the end of the discussion, they brought up questions of their own, and the staff responded by sharing their experiences. The most valuable piece of knowledge they gained was understanding the value of networking.

"I learned so much from this experience and was able to see into a group that was once a mystery to me. The CSAAH staff was helpful when we had career questions. They told us how critically important it was to stay connected to people. Many said they found their careers through the people they knew. It makes sense, but seeing it leaves me with a lot to think about." said Tony Lam, a year 3 Electrical Engineering student of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

"Having a discussion in this venue and with this organization was an honor. This organization opened itself up to these students and left them with new knowledge of a community, lasting wisdom and an experience that will shape their future for the better. The more organizations there are that do this, the closer the global community will be tied together, and the better it will be for the next global generation." Elizabeth Kay added.

About CSAAH: The mission of the Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH) is to reduce health disparities in the Asian American community through research, training and partnership. CSAAH is one of four various, distinct Centers of research, education and training under the NYU Institute of Community Health and Research.