Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islanders (NHPI) are underrepresented in most public health occupations in the United States including our U.S. Jurisdictions (if data is even available). The NHPI perspective on health must be fully understood if the needs of NHPI people are to be better met by the health system. Moreover, NHPI people have holistic views of health that incorporate beliefs and values relating to family, culture, and spirituality. Thus, these health beliefs have important implications for the development of the public health workforce.
An NHPI fellows program to support a need for training of NHPI health and allied health professionals is one initiative APIAHF has supported to better meet the health care needs of NHPI communities. Hence, the pipeline of future NHPI health leaders was established to provide opportunities for the next generation of leaders who have connection to their communities.