For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Leezel Tanglao
leezel.tanglao@fylpro.org
October 12, 2023
FYLPRO Tayo Fellow Wins APHA APIC Best Student Abstract Award
Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) Tayo fellow Janeva Dimen wins American Public Health Association (APHA) Best Student Abstract Award from the Asian & Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health (APIC). The Best Student Abstract Award recognizes an abstract among a field of exceptionally talented individuals that “truly stood out as a testament to commitment to excellence in academic endeavors.”
Dimen recently graduated from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Classics. At Wellesley, she was dedicated to building the AAPI community on and off campus as the Co-President of the Filipinx club, a Tayo Research Fellow, and a member of the Council of Young Filipinx Americans in Medicine.
Dimen’s award and abstract, “Filipino young leaders program (FYLPRO) tayohelp.com: Addressing misinformation in Asian American communities by developing diverse public health advocates-in-training” will be presented at the upcoming APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, scheduled for November 12-15, 2023.
“As a Filipina pre-medical student, I struggled to find mentors and opportunities that truly resonated with me. Thus, I am forever grateful to the Tayo Research team and FYLPRO fellowship – two important catalysts that introduced me to inspiring mentors and peers; empowered me to continue pursuing medicine and public health; and opened my eyes to the various ways in which I can give back to my Filipino communities,” Dimen said. “Tayo’s Dr. Palma has been a crucial figure in my professional development; under her guidance, I have refined my research skills and learned about various Filipino health disparities. Dr. Palma has also helped me identify relevant career opportunities, including conferences such as the APHA conference. In these ways, Tayo and FYLPRO have introduced me to incredible career opportunities as well as an uplifting and supportive community. Having experienced the profound impact of mentorship, I hope to pay it forward by mentoring other Filipinx/a/o pre-health students and developing more health resources for our kababayan.”
Tayo’s cofounder and medical advisor Dr. Melissa Palma said the award is just confirmation of the fellowship program’s long lasting impact.
“As an organization dedicated to supporting our kababayan, FYLPRO continues to mentor our young professional leaders to bridge, represent, and discover deep ties to our Filipino heritage. Through programs like the FYLPRO Fellowship and Tayo Research team, our students and mentees learn to investigate and illuminate the experiences of Filipino immigrant communities and Filipinx/a/o Americans at high risk for cardiovascular disease. We are elated that the American Public Health Association APIC (Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health) has recognized Janeva Dimen, and the collective efforts of all of our Tayo Research Fellows, for their dedication and care to improve health equity for our communities,” Palma said.
About Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)
FILIPINO YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM (FYLPRO) is a network of high performing, next-generation leaders who advance the Philippines and the Filipino people through their advocacy and expertise in various industries. We continually expand the pipeline of Filipino young leaders in the diaspora. By connecting them to the motherland, we foster collaborative multinational relationships that create innovations and support the socio-economic progress of the global Filipino community.
For more information:
About Tayo
Tayo, a project of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), is an innovative data hub that empowers Filipinx/a/o communities by collecting data, fostering partnerships, publishing culturally relevant insights, and developing leaders to create an equitable and sustainable future.
For more information, visit tayohelp.com.
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