WASHINGTON—The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jacob Aki and Mary Joy Garcia-Dia to its Board of Directors.

“We are honored to welcome Jacob Aki and Mary Joy Garcia-Dia to our Board,” said Juliet K. Choi, President and CEO of APIAHF. “Jacob and Mary Joy each bring exceptional leadership, deep ties to the communities we serve, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing the health and well-being of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. As we celebrate APIAHF’s 40-year legacy this year, their expertise across public affairs, healthcare informatics, and health equity will be invaluable as we build toward the next 40 years.”

“Jacob and Mary Joy embody the leadership, vision, and passion needed to help guide APIAHF through this critical moment,” said Dr. Sheri Boyle, Board Chair of APIAHF. “Their diverse experiences and longstanding dedication to service will strengthen our work and help ensure that the voices and needs of AANHPI communities remain at the forefront of health policy and advocacy.”

Jacob Aki serves as Senior Public Affairs Manager at Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, where he leads government relations and community engagement efforts across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Prior to joining Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, he spent nearly a decade in public service in the Hawai‘i State Legislature, including as Director of Communications for the Hawai‘i State Senate and as a senior legislative advisor. A proud Native Hawaiian leader, Aki has dedicated his career to advancing policies and initiatives that expand opportunities and improve outcomes for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

Mary Joy Garcia-Dia, DNP, RN, FAAN, FHIMSS, is a nationally recognized leader in nursing informatics, digital health innovation, and health equity. She serves as Program Director for Nursing Informatics at NewYork-Presbyterian, leading enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives that enhance patient care and healthcare delivery. Dr. Garcia-Dia has held numerous national leadership positions, including service on the National Advisory Council on Research for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Health and as President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America.

As APIAHF commemorates its 40th anniversary, the organization remains committed to advancing health equity and improving the health and well-being of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities nationwide. The addition of Aki and Garcia-Dia to the Board of Directors further strengthens APIAHF’s leadership as it continues to champion policies and programs that ensure all communities have the opportunity to thrive.

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Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice.