Asian Journal: Philippine Ambassador Visits Cedars-Sinai
Medical and Diplomatic Leadership Come Together to Increase Understanding of Filipino and Filipino American Healthcare Needs
The Asian Journal recently featured a story about a meeting between Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez and several leaders at Cedars-Sinai, including several Filipino American staff members.
Philippine Consul General Adelio Cruz and several other consul delegates also joined the visit to the medical center. Together, they recommended building partnerships between Cedars-Sinai and the Philippine government, and discussed how to engage Filipino Americans who are reluctant to seek medical care.
Cedars-Sinai employs more than 3,000 Filipino Americans and is leading a research program into the health needs of that community, both in Southern California and across the nation.
Cedars-Sinai’s Research Center for Health Equity conducted an initial survey this past summer and received about 500 respondents from the Filipino American community. The complete results of the survey are slated to be unveiled during an upcoming Filipino Cultural Day event although Robert Haile, DrPH, MPH, director of the Research Center for Health Equity, shared that some of the initial findings. Results include that, among all Asian groups, Filipino American women have higher rates of breast cancer as well as the highest incidence of thyroid cancer and obesity.
“They’re not getting screened for cancers at the rate they should be,” said Haile. “Health insurance is a concern…but they don’t see a need for going to the doctor unless they’re sick.”
The meeting is not the first, or the last time, Cedars-Sinai leadership will exchange ideas with the local Consulate office.
“The fact that the leadership of Cedars-Sinai and the ambassadorial leadership came together is ground shaking,” said attendee Edwin Posadas, MD, medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai. “This will allow us to make some long-lasting and an important impact on our understanding of Filipinos and their health issues, opportunities and barriers that will lead to changes in health care learning here in Los Angeles, across the U.S. and across the globe."
Read the complete story here.
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