Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Racism in Academic Pediatrics: Recommendations for Training, Research, and Clinical Practice

Abstract

This paper discusses how anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) racism affects pediatric training, research, and clinical practice. Extant research shows that racism and discrimination are social determinants of health that impact AANHPI populations, including youth. AANHPI youth face significant health disparities and a wide range of barriers to health care access. However, AANHPIs tend to be seen by clinicians and depicted in training as monolithic, high achieving, and a relatively low priority in terms of pediatric workforce recruitment and training and pediatric research. After a brief discussion of US policies that have explicitly aimed to exclude, punish, or imprison AANHPIs, the paper explains AANHPI racism and its consequences. The paper then describes evidence of anti-AANHPI racism in pediatrics and offers recommendations for training, research, and clinical practice.