Below is an interactive list of various resources throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area, all of which offer accessible and culturally informed health services.
We have also created printable versions of the Clinical and Non-clinical care resource list. That can be accessed by clicking the two buttons to the right.
Guest Speakers
Special thank you to all of our guest speakers!
This line up of speakers discussed topics such as COVID-19, the Basics of Stroke and two panels about cancer and women's health!
We also have fun activities and energizers throughout the day! This includes yoga, Pilates and even a vegan cooking demo!!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Melanie Sabado-Liwag, PhD, MPH
Biography:
Dr. Melanie Sabado-Liwag is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at California State University, Los Angeles. She was as postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland and received her Ph.D. in health promotion sciences at the School of Community & Global Health at Claremont Graduate University and MPH at California State University, Fullerton. With 20 years of experience working in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, her research in minority health and health disparities aims to understand psychosocial, environmental, and biological determinants related to adverse health and social outcomes across the life course. Dr. Sabado-Liwag is a mixed-methods scholar who uses advanced epidemiologic analyses to identify how these associations are related to risky behaviors, chronic disease, and mental health. Other efforts include working alongside communities of color and marginalized groups to develop evidence-based, culturally-tailored projects and interventions through community-based participatory research methods and mobile health (mhealth) strategies. Dr. Sabado-Liwag is a first generation Filipina raised in Los Angeles (Tongva Land) and rooted by people of Ilocos Sur and the Bago tribe of the Cordilleras.
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Event title: Seeing beyond 2020: We are Kasama
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
Dr. Joyce Javier, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP
Biography:
Joyce R. Javier, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and an Attending Physician at AltaMed General Pediatrics. She completed pediatrics residency training and a general academic pediatrics fellowship at Stanford University. She is a general pediatrician and physician scientist whose research over the past 18 years has focused on addressing health disparities among minority immigrant populations. Her most recent studies focus on recruitment of Filipino families in randomized controlled trials and using community partnered participatory research to decrease mental health stigma and prevent adolescent depression and suicide among Filipino youth by partnering with parents and community stakeholders to implement and evaluate evidence-based parenting interventions. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health NCATS KL2 and NICHD K23 awards, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the SC CTSI, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program. She currently serves as an Executive Committee Member on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Community Pediatrics, Co-chair of the Society for Pediatric Research Advocacy Committee, and a member of Pediatric Policy Council. In 2018, she received the AAP Local Hero Award and was named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World by the Filipina Women’s Network.
Website: filipinofamilyhealth.com | Facebook: @filipinofamilyhealthLA | Twitter: @JoyceJavierMD
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Event title: Promoting Filipino Family Wellness During COVID-19
Charmaine Clamor, MPT, MS
Biography:
Charmaine Clamor has been a physical therapist since 2000. She currently specializes in pelvic and digestive health for both women and men. She is a community educator, health coach, trauma-informed energy and body worker, and a Medical Qi Gong practice leader. She is the owner of Be Well Therapy, a holistic center for wellness in West Hollywood, California and the co-founder of The Better Angels.
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Event title: Immunity in Community
Nicole Aniceto, MPH Student
Biography:
Nicole is finishing the last year of her MPH program with CSULA. She has been teaching Pilates for over 4 years and is especially connected with her clients who are mostly seniors interested in maintaining their balance, range of motion, and strength. Before Pilates, Nicole has over 5 years of experience working with licensed physical and occupational therapists who have contributed to her foundation of movement and wellness. Nicole hopes to bring more mental health awareness to the community by incorporating mindfulness into her movement classes.
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Event title: Move and Feel: A Workshop to De-stress and Connect!
Myron Dean Quon, Esq.
Biography:
Myron Dean Quon is the Executive Director of National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA). NAPAFASA is the country’s national nonprofit that prevents substance use disorders in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through research, advocacy, education, and capacity building. Mr. Quon manages its programs including national and local advocacy for language access and cultural competency, gambling addiction trainings, and workshops concerning alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Before NAPAFASA, Mr. Quon was the Executive Director of The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC), where he supervised a team of attorneys and community organizers focused on empowering low-income Asian immigrants of DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Prior to APALRC, Mr. Quon was the inaugural Legal Director of Advancing Justice-Chicago, where he successfully led advocacy efforts to repair the presumptive exclusion of Asian American-owned business enterprises from the City of Chicago’s public contracting affirmative action program.
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Event title: Addictions in a time of COVID-19
Pastor Rhonda Holbert, CEO of Celebrate Life Cancer Ministry
Biography:
Pastor Rhonda Holbert began her cancer journey on 9-11-01 which led to the diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer at age 40. After completing her treatment, she hosted a celebration party which turned into the launch of Celebrate Life Cancer Ministry where she is the founder/CEO. Since that time, she has become a patient navigator, health educator, and advocate. Pastor Rhonda believes that it takes a “community to conquer cancer,” and she strategically works with various organizations to provide the best resources possible to cancer survivors, caregivers, and their families. She serves as a conduit of God's love to keep those on the cancer journey focused on “fighting the fight of life.” Pastor Rhonda retired from the Los Angeles Urban League after 25 years as Entrepreneurship Center and Employment Services Department, Director. For the last 5 years, she has been a consultant for the Los Angeles Urban League in the Biz Institute Program for young entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship Center.
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Event title: Cancer: A Panel on Prevention, Advocacy and Empowerment
Shenazar Esmundo, MPH, CHES
Biography:
Shenazar Esmundo, MPH, CHES also known as Shane is a Filipina-American born in the Philippines. Having both nations to call home, she has always felt a sense of belonging from both cultures. She pursued her Master’s Degree in Public Health at Cal State Northridge with a focus in Community Health. Aside from being the Filipinx Community Outreach Coordinator at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Research Center for Health Equity where research-driven community outreach and engagement to address cancer disparities is conducted, Shane is also a Graduate Research Assistant at Cal State Northridge working on projects regarding mental health and the AANHPI community. She hopes to make an impact by being the bridge to health policy through community collaboration, empowerment, and collaborative research to tackle health disparities and improve health equity.
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Event title: Cancer: A Panel on Prevention, Advocacy, and Empowerment
Dr. Donald Ware, MD, MPH
Biography:
Dr. Ware was born in Los Angeles, CA and a product of the LA public school systems. He attended the University of Redlands and left after 3 years to attend the University of California San Francisco Medical School and UC Berkeley School of Public Health from which he graduated with a M.D. and M.P.H. in 4 years. He is board certified in preventive medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. While in medical school, he was elected the President of the Student National Medical Association, a national organization of predominantly Black medical students. Dr. Ware became the Chief of the Nation's High Blood Pressure Demonstration Programs at the National Institute of Health. Dr. Ware conceived of and Co-Chaired the first White House Conference on high blood pressure in Black communities under President Jimmy Carter. After returning home to Los Angeles, Dr. Ware became one of the first African American fellows in Cardiology at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Los Angeles and later served as the President of the Kaiser Alumni Association of Southern California.
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Event title: Heart Disease in Women of Color
Dr. Antonio Moya, MD, MPH, MS
Biography:
Antonio Moya, MD, MPH, MS is a Board Certified Neurologist and LA County Department of Health Services Scholar working at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. He completed his neurology residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Prior to residency, he graduated as a PRIME-US Scholar from the UCSF School of Medicine and also completed his MPH at the Harvard School of Public Health with a focus on Global Health. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in the Philippines before medical school, specifically working on establishing telemedicine stroke care. Antonio has focused on the Filipino and Asian Pacific Islander community, having served as one of the past leaders of the UCSF Student-Run Clinic Mabuhay Center and Director of the UCSF Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association. Antonio now partners with the Filipino American Service Group Inc. (FASGI), having been awarded multiple community and national grants to leverage media tools to improve Filipino health behaviors related to non-communicable diseases.
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Event title: The Basics of Stroke
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Dr. Brittney Johnson, MD
Biography:
Dr. Johnson specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at USC. She completed her medical training at Howard University College of Medicine. Dr. Johnson's areas of expertise include preconception counseling, complete prenatal care for low and high-risk pregnancies, birth control services and counseling, family planning options, STI testing and counseling, basic infertility evaluation and treatment, well woman exams, management of common gynecologic conditions, menopause management, and gynecologic surgery. Dr. Johnson's mission is to deliver compassionate, competent, and culturally sensitive medical care to all women.
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Event title: Striving for Health Equity: A Panel on Minority Women’s Health
Dr. Katrina Heyrana, MD, PhD
Biography:
Dr. Heyrana is an OB/GYN and family planning fellow at LAC+USC in Los Angeles. She completed a combined MD/PhD program at Penn State, where she studied structural retrovirology and developed an interest in how vulnerable populations make complex medical decisions. During her OB/GYN residency at the University of Rochester, she developed a locally-focused social determinants of health curriculum incorporating reproductive justice (RJ) principles into patient care. She currently provides general OB/GYN care, complex contraceptive services, and abortion care to patients in LA County. Her research employs an RJ framework to explore the interplay between acculturation and the reproductive health needs of different AAPI populations, with a focus on Filipinx communities.
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Event title: Striving for Health Equity: A Panel on Minority Women’s Health
Robert Bucayu, MPH, MS4
Biography:
Robi Bucayu (pronouns: he/him & they/them) is a 4th year medical student at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine currently applying into pediatric residency programs. Born in California, his family is from both Quezon City and Isabela in the Philippines. He is a self-identifying gay professional who is passionate about infectious diseases, youth-adult partnerships, and gender-affirming care for LGBTQ+ populations. He first engaged in LGBTQ+ health during his gap years prior to medical school conducting health education, HIV counseling, and community outreach through the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and continues his work today as a Data Advisory Council Member for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. He advocated for LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum at his medical school as the Class Representative on the Curriculum and Educational Policy and served as Co-Chair for eQuality, the school's LGBTQ+ organization. He recently completed a Masters of Public Health in Community Health Sciences at the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, during which time he completed his MPH internship at the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Children's Hospital Los Angeles developing health communication items and evaluative tools to support LGBTQ+ youth engagement in services.
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Event title: Advancing Health Equity for Queer Youth and Young Adults: From Anecdote to Action
Marco Antonio, Salamat Yoga
Biography:
Marco Antonio is a breakdancer and martial artist turned yoga instructor who first began practicing the discipline to alleviate the stress and physical ailments derived from cranking through a 9-to-5 design job at Disney. His brand Salamat Yoga focuses on bridging the gap of yoga by encouraging diversity and eliminating the stereotypes to create a good vibe experience for the masses. With his relentless dedication, he radiates humble vibes through his creativity, playful personality, and mindful inspiration.
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Event title: Wellness Break + Chair Yoga w/ Salamat Yoga
Dr. Brownell Payne, MD
Biography:
Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. One of 6 siblings whose parents were committed educators in the public school system of Indianapolis. Attended and graduated from Howard University with a degree in pre-med and a B.S. in Zoology. This was followed up with graduate work at Howard in the field of Endocrinology. Attended medical school at the University of California-San Francisco and received a M.D degree in 1973. After a year’s internship in pediatrics at Los Angeles Childrens Hospital, Dr Payne was called to serve in the United States Army. For 2 difficult and dangerous years he was a combat physican with the Green Berets, parachuting into numerous candescent areas throughout the world as the combat team’s medical director and 5th Group surgeon. Following completion of his military commitment and receiving a honorable discharge, he returned to Los Angeles Childrens Hospital and completed his residence training in pediatrics. After completing the program in pediatrics he traveled cross town and completed a full residency in Anesthesiology at UCLA medical center with an emphasis in pediatric anesthesiology. In 2015 Dr Payne formed Clear Path Life Center, a wellness center dedicated to spreading healthcare information to communities of color and those communities with significant health disparities. Dr Payne is an active supporter of ALL Veterans and the past commander of American Legion Post 109. He is also a 100% disabled combat physican. Dr Payne is the founder, CEO and Medical Director of CCMG (Chronic Care Management Group), a senior care support organization that manages senior care chronic health problems.
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Event title: Chronic Care Management of Health Conditions Affecting Seniors in Underserved Communities of Color
Tye Amy, Gerontology Social Worker
Biography:
Tye has been a Gerontology social worker expert for over 10 years specializing in meeting the biopsychosocial needs of older adults. Part of the job is connecting the elderly with community resources, health education, and preventive care resources. Tye is passionate about working with the senior population. Moreover, Tye is the author of Affirming Affirmations and Founder and CEO of Have A Heart Foundation nonprofit organization. Have A Heart Foundation is a family- operated business that serves the community by offering individual/group therapy, meal programs, clothing drives, various empowerment workshops, and benefit connection services.
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Event title: Longevity Life Zone
Chef Korby Benoit, Vegan Chef
Biography:
What began as an early childhood curiosity has now unfolded into committed passion for Chef Korby Benoit. Chef Korby specializes in vegan cuisine and has done so for nearly 20 years. He is a diverse and impassioned creative who relentlessly seeks to create exciting and inspired plant-based foods. In recent years he has created a base in Los Angeles where he has launched a meal prep service named Kafou Alkaline Foods. Chef Korby also produced a vegan food, art and music festival called The Plant BASS’D Festival. He is also presently working on crowdfunding his first cookbook entitled No Mistakes Allowed. Chef Korby has been active in educating people about his journey and culinary techniques. He remains insightful, enterprising, and optimistic about his purpose and the potential for all of the human family.
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Event title: A Simple and Delicious Vegan Meal in Minutes