Lectures + Events

Although Asian Americans generally have lower cancer rates than other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S., cancer is the leading cause of death among Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans. Overall, Asian Americans are 40% less likely to die from cancer than White individuals, but they are twice as likely to die from liver and stomach cancer, reflecting cancer risks in Asian countries of origin. Asian Americans comprise more than 40 ethnic subgroups, leading to variations in cancer risk within this group. The seminar will highlight high cancer risks and related cancer risk factors in several large Asian American groups. Cancer screening uptake rates among Asian Americans are generally lower, contributing to higher mortality in certain cancers.

Ann Hsing, MD, is a professor of medicine and of epidemiology and population health at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She is a molecular epidemiologist whose research focuses on investigating cancer etiology and prevention through population-based epidemiologic studies. Dr. Hsing has carried out studies on four continents for over 35 years. At Stanford, she leads the seven-year NIH-funded MOSAAIC cohort study (Multi-ethnic Observational Study in American Asian and Pacific Islander Communities), a groundbreaking health research study on Asian Americans (https://med.stanford.edu/arise). She also serves as the principal investigator of a newly funded five-country study investigating the use of biomarkers for early detection of multiple cancers, including cancers of the esophagus, liver, stomach, pancreas, colorectum, ovary, and lung (https://med.stanford.edu/the-hsing-lab/research/cancer.html). Dr. Hsing has published more than 370 peer-reviewed papers and has mentored more than 90 junior investigators

Tuesday, January 21
7:00 pm Pacific Time
Online

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Lauren Eggert, MD, will discuss the common causes, basic workup, and management of chronic cough.

Lauren Eggert, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained pulmonologist and a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is an expert in the diagnosis and management of diseases of the airway, with a focus on patients with allergic asthma. She also treats chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and chronic cough.

Thursday, January 23
7:00 pm Pacific Time
Online

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Medicare Part D is a prescription drug program offered through private companies, and it's about to get even better. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, 2025 will bring many new and valuable benefits for enrollees.

Join Maha Justi, Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) Counselor of San Mateo County, for an in-depth look at the features, costs, and potential pitfalls of Part D plans. Get the knowledge you need to navigate these changes and make the most of your coverage.

Maha Justi, HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) Counselor of San Mateo County, provides free and objective information and counseling about Medicare.

Thursday, January 30
7:00 pm Pacific Time
Online

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Western and Asian cultures can have differing core values that influence how people navigate serious illness, including end-of-life (EOL) care. Understanding these differences can help patients, families, and healthcare professionals work together to provide care consistent with personal, familial, and cultural values. Grant Smith, MD, and Jean Yih, MBA, will discuss differences in the EOL experience between people living in the United States (US) and in Asian countries as well as differences between EOL care received by Asian Americans and Caucasian Americans within the US. They will provide guidance for starting conversations within families and with healthcare professionals to help families navigate serious illness and engage in care planning to minimize unnecessary distress during difficult illness at end of life.

Grant Smith, MD is a palliative care physician and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. He is the medical director of the Stanford Palliative Care Community Partnerships Team. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. As part of the Stanford faculty, he is an attending physician on the palliative care inpatient service and in the outpatient palliative care clinic in Palo Alto.

Jean Yih, MBA is a medical interpreter at Stanford Health Care since 2015 and a past Board Chair of the Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care (CACCC), which aims to enhance advanced illness and end of life care by improving advance care planning and decision-making for Chinese Americans through community outreach education and volunteer, caregiver, and health professional training. She is currently a CACCC warmline volunteer, interpreter, translator, and facilitator of Heart-to-Heart advance care planning sessions. She received her master’s in business administration from California State University, Sacramento.

Tuesday, February 4
7:00 pm Pacific Time
Online

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Jehan Bahrainwala, MD, FASN, will provide an overview including risks, lifestyle changes, and treatment goals for maintaining healthy blood pressure. She will talk about methods to measure blood pressure in the clinic and at home and share information about emerging treatments. 

Jehan Bahrainwala, MD, FASN, is double board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology, and a fellowship-trained nephrologist with the Stanford Medicine Kidney Clinic. Dr. Bahrainwala is a member of the National Kidney Foundation and the American Heart Association. 

Thursday, February 6
7:00 pm Pacific Time
Online and In-person

Stanford Health Library
211 Quarry Road, Suite 201
Palo Alto, CA 94304

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Stay ahead in diabetes management by attending our informative session on the latest updates regarding continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Discover how these innovative tools can transform your approach to blood sugar control and enhance your overall health outcomes.

This presentation is part of the monthly Diabetes Wellness Group webinar series from the Stanford Medicine Diabetes Care Program. Webinars are free and open to adults with diabetes and their families. You don’t need to be a Stanford patient to join.

Kristina Schmidt, PharmD, MS, BC-ADM, CDCES, is a Clinical Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at Stanford Health Care. Michael Blyumin, PharmD, CDCES, is a Clinical Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at Stanford Health Care.

Thursday, February 13
5:00 pm Pacific Time
Online

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Join us for a film screening of Midnight Family and discussion with Luke Lorentzen.

In Mexico City, the government operates fewer than 45 emergency ambulances for a population of 9 million. This has spawned an underground industry of for-profit ambulances often run by people with little or no training or certification. An exception in this ethically fraught, cutthroat industry, the Ochoa family struggles to keep their financial needs from jeopardizing the people in their care. When a crackdown by corrupt police pushes the family into greater hardship, they face increasing moral dilemmas even as they continue providing essential emergency medical services.

Lorentzen is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and lecturer in Stanford University's department of Art and Art History. His film MIDNIGHT FAMILY (2019) was shortlisted for the best documentary Oscar after winning over 35 awards from film festivals and organizations around the world including a Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, Best Editing from the International Documentary Association, and the Golden Frog for Best Documentary from Camerimage.

Wednesday, February 26
5:30 pm Pacific Time
Online and In-person

Hoover Health Library
211 Quarry Road, Suite 201
Palo Alto, CA 94304

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Are you ready to take control of your healthcare costs? Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, offers essential coverage to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses in Original Medicare. With highly regulated plans and limited enrollment windows, making the right decision at the right time is crucial.

Maha Justi, HICAP Counselor of San Mateo, will talk about the key features of Medigap plans and guide you through the rules and deadlines, empowering you to make informed decisions.

Maha Justi, HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) Counselor of San Mateo County, provides free and objective information and counseling about Medicare.

Thursday, March 6
7:00 pm Pacific Time
Online

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An informative session on how to effectively communicate with your doctor about cardiovascular risk, focusing on the critical role of ethnicity and demographics in improving health outcomes. Gain valuable insights and actionable questions that will empower you to take control of your heart health and advocate for personalized care tailored to your unique background.

This presentation is part of the monthly Diabetes Wellness Group webinar series from the Stanford Medicine Diabetes Care Program. Webinars are free and open to adults with diabetes and their families. You don’t need to be a Stanford patient to join.

Mehdi Skhiri, MD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health at Stanford.

Thursday, March 13
5:00 pm Pacific Time
Online

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