In the landscape of data collection and analysis, the unique health and socio-economic data of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) gets muted within the larger “Asian American” identifier. Research has shown that combining multiple race/ethnicities under one larger category leads to structural racism that disproportionately affects millions of Americans and perpetuates invisibility and inequity.
Driven by a desire to affect policy and codify disaggregating data for AANHPI communities, Chris Weir set his sights on pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with an emphasis on two tracks, Sociocultural, Diversity, and Health and Epidemiology, at the UC Irvine Program in Public Health. Though not a usual situation to choose two tracks, it is the perfect union of his past experiences and his future goals around social epidemiology. Prior to UC Irvine, Chris worked for nearly 10 years with the non-profit organization, Access to Prevention Advocacy Intervention & Treatment (APAIT), which is the largest and most comprehensive Asian and Pacific Islander-focused AIDS Service Organization in Southern California. His decision to pursue an MPH was not only a means to equip himself with the necessary knowledge and tools to create the change he wants to see, but a deliberate choice that is deeply rooted in his own identity and experiences.
When data reflects those lived experiences and ultimately highlight disparities, individuals are better equipped to demand equitable representation, resources, and services that align with their needs.”
– Chris Weir
Coming from a mixed-race household being Japanese and Caucasian, Chris always felt like his culture, history, and identity was never adequately captured in a single ethnicity check box when asked to complete important forms. Many mixed-race or subgroup communities like Japanese, Filipino, Hmong, Samoan and others face the same burden of being overlooked and underserved in mainstream discourse. This seemingly simple clerical aspect of options on a form is significant because without granularity in data collection, the unique challenges such as healthcare disparities, educational attainment, economic mobility, and access to resources are obscured when data is combined under a larger identifier. Just as a one-size-fits-all approach fails to accommodate the complexities of human experience, broad policies derived from aggregated data often miss the mark.
“With over a decade working in the community, I have learned so much about AANHPI’s rich history whether it’s about immigrating to the U.S., trauma and war, or resiliency, every group has a unique story,” said Chris. “When data reflects those lived experiences and ultimately highlight disparities, individuals are better equipped to demand equitable representation, resources, and services that align with their needs.”
For Chris, pursuing an MPH degree is not just about acquiring systems-level knowledge and analytical skills, it is a bold declaration of his commitment to challenge policies that exacerbate systemic barriers. He envisions a future where data-driven policies reflect the nuanced realities of AANHPI individuals, especially multi-race identities like himself.
“I see myself working alongside policymakers, community leaders, and advocacy groups to push for the collection and analysis of disaggregated data that accurately represents the breadth and depth of my community’s experiences,” says Chris. “I plan to take what I learned at UCI to the level where it can make a real impact: policy and practice.”
