Linkage to Care

The mission of the Asian Health Foundation (AHF), a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization established in 2006, is to improve the health of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) and to decrease health disparities among AAPIs. The AHF has chosen hepatitis B to be its initial focus because AAPIs are disproportionately affected by chronic HBV infection and its consequences, notably hepatocellular carcinoma.

The AHF is comprised of a 4 physician executive board, 50 physician advisors/members from 10 states, and a core staff of 4 people. The executive board and physician members are all AAPIs and include hepatologists, gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, and family physicians. The AHF offers a unique perspective since many of the advisors are leaders in the field of hepatitis B. In addition, the advisors understand the culture, have close connections to AAPI communities, and most are fluent in their native language. The AHF accomplishes its mission through nationwide hepatitis B continuing medical education programs in a variety of formats, including dinner lectures, online lectures and discussions.

The physician members of the AHF have extensive experience in leading HBV screening programs, collecting and analyzing data from these programs, and publishing those results. A majority of the AHF physician members have led HBV screening programs including some of the largest and most well conducted programs in the country. Because many of our advisors are very experienced in the management of hepatitis B and have close affiliations with the local Asian communities, a major goal of the AHF is to launch a nationwide HBV screening program called the Hepatitis B Linkage to Care Program.