Editor's Note: This message was sent to the Duke Health community from Duke Health Leadership.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We are so proud of the diverse workforce we have at Duke Health because it allows us to take better care of our patients, ourselves and each other. Having team members from a variety of backgrounds allows us to find common ground and foster a sense of belonging and respect. Join us and our Duke Health team members as we recognize and reflect on the rich contributions of our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) colleagues.

One of those contributions is the establishment of the AAPI affinity group. This group brings together Duke team members who identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander and their allies. The group meets virtually on the first Thursday of each month, serving as a collaborative space for team members to share ideas, identify opportunities to explore their heritage and educate allies.

In addition to the monthly meetings, the AAPI affinity group is working on several projects, including analyzing patient satisfaction data that can be included in community health programs to identify and address health disparities. The AAPI affinity group also helped promote Lunar New Year in February with a story in Inside Duke Health about the holiday and its traditional red envelopes. And since May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the affinity group will host a celebratory, family-friendly event on May 14 at DHTS at the Park. Please register by Friday, May 6. To learn more about the AAPI affinity group, contact AAPI@duke.edu.

We spend most of our week at work, and therefore, it is critically important that team members feel they can be themselves here. Show your support for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by downloading this Zoom background. Together, we can make Duke Health a place where differences are celebrated, and every team member feels a sense of belonging, respect and value.