Collaboration to bring community voices and priorities to the research enterprise.
Filipinos actively participate in research that focuses on various health topics such as misuse of substances, behavioral health, reproductive health, cancer, COVID-19, workforce development, etc. This consortium works to bring families, community members, and health professionals together to uplift Filipinos and get them involved in every step of the research process, from choosing priorities to sharing results. It’s an opportunity to discuss research that will help our kababayan (people).
About us:
Pinerds is a community of researchers with a shared dedication to addressing health disparities within the Filipino communities living in Hawaiʻi. Our vision is to ensure that Filipinos of all ages thrive in Hawaii and are actively engaged in all aspects of health research. By prioritizing community needs, we embrace a cultural strength-based approach to research that supports and advocates for Filipino health and well-being.
Pinerds is supported by the Community Engagement Core (CEC), part of Ola HAWAII and the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute. HIPHI helps streamline funding to our community outreach efforts, enabling capacity building and resource sharing.
We have 17 dedicated representatives who bring community voice, expertise, and perspective to health research. Our members include clinicians, community-based researchers, health professionals, and community members, representing grassroots organizations, scientists, and community-based organizations (CBOs) as shown below. With extensive experience in community organizations and community-based research, our members are deeply committed to advancing health research that reflects the needs of the communities they serve.
Melissa Agsalda-Garcia, PhD
UH John A. Burns School of Medicine
Research focus: HIV-Associated Diseases and Pediatric Cancers
Kathleen Corpuz, MA, MPH
University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health
Research focus: Filipino community health and education
May Rose Dela Cruz, DrPH
Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute
UH Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health
Research focus: Cancer prevention, health education, underage drinking prevention, tobacco cessation & prevention
Monica Esquivel, PhD
UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
Research focus: Nutrition and food security
Arcelita Imasa, MD
HI Urgent Care
Research focus: Primary care, community health
Jourdan McMillan, PhD
UH John A. Burns School of Medicine
Research focus: Immunology and parasitology
Ruthsenne Perron, PhD
Cadence Design Systems
Research focus: Biomedical devices, sensors, electromagnetics, high energy physics, and software simulation
Angela Sy, DrPH
UH John A. Burns School of Medicine
Research focus: Filipino and other Pacific Islander cancer disparities, program evaluation, research training and mentoring of students in biomedical research
Kami Yamamoto, MPH
National Alliance for Filipino Concerns
Research focus: Community health education and community organizing
Clifford “Cliff” Bersamira, PhD
UH Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health
Research focus: Substance use and behavioral health services, policies and workforce development
Vanessa Cunanan, PhD
UH Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health
Research focus: Chronic diseases
Jermy Domingo, PhD
Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association
Research focus: Filipino community health, chronic disease prevention and control, health disparities
Cherie Guillermo, PhD
UH Cancer Center
Research focus: Cancer prevention, chronic diseases
Mikaella-Joy Liban
UH Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health
Research focus: Filipino community health, chronic disease
Melissa Natavio, MD
UH John A. Burns School of Medicine
Research focus: Filipino reproductive health, contraception, community health
Meliza Roman, MS
UH John A. Burns School of Medicine
Research focus: Filipino health, womenʻs health, evaluation studies
Michelle Tagorda-Kama, MPH
UH College of Education
Research focus: Filipinos in higher education
Araw ng Saliksik: Filipino Health Research Report Back to Community
Araw ng Saliksik is an annual community event focused on sharing health research that impacts Filipinos in Hawaiʻi. The discussion highlighted the significance of the Filipino community in health research and emphasized the importance of voicing our health concerns. These events brought together Filipino health researchers and community leaders to present their research results, benefiting both local and immigrant communities in Hawaiʻi. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and learn how these projects contributed to the well-being of the Filipino community.
Our members gather to create a platform for effectively sharing information, where researchers are required to present their methods, concepts, and findings. The event brings together community members, research collaborators, policymakers, funders, and academic partners.
The first Araw Ng Saliksik on October 14, 2023 celebrated Filipino American History Month by sharing research by Filipino researchers to and for the Filipino community. Student and current health researchers presented their work and held panel discussions highlighting their personal and professional journeys. Attendees, including high school and university students, were invited to network with the panelists and learn more about their topics and field.
Click on the 2023 Event Program to learn more.
Partners
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health
- UH Cancer Center
- UH JABSOM
- Hawai‘i Primary Care Association
- Philippine Medical Association of Hawai‘i
- Imelda Gasmen, MA
The second annual Araw Ng Saliksik took place on October 26, 2024 at Leilehua High School. This year, the event spotlighted emerging student researchers from high school to graduate school. Students from Leilehua High School presented their research projects on mental health and sports medicine and demonstrated an understanding of community engagement through their project activities. University students presented their culturally-responsive research projects on COVID-19, tobacco cessation, and the field of health research.
To learn more about the event, click our 2024 Event Program.
Partners
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health
- UH Cancer Center
- UH JABSOM
- UH Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology
- Hawai‘i Primary Care Association
- Hawai‘i Worker’s Center
The third annual Araw Ng Saliksik event took place on October 18, 2025 at Palama Settlement in Kalihi. The event has grown tremendously in this third iteration and continues its goals of highlighting emerging and current Filipino health researchers and creating connections back to communities. This year, ten high school students from Farrington and Waipahu High School presented their research projects to an audience of over 90 attendees. They were joined by five University students and two current health researchers who also shared research projects on the Filipino community.
To learn more about the event, click our 2025 Event Program.
Partners
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health
- UH Cancer Center
- UH JABSOM
- Hawai‘i Primary Care Association
- Hawai‘i Worker’s Center
Presentations
If you would like to receive a copy of the presentations shared at Araw Ng Saliksik 2025, email May Rose Dela Cruz at mayrose@hiphi.org
Publications and Resources from the Pinerds
- Tagnawa 2024 Comprehensive Report on the Needs and Recovery of Filipino Survivors of the Lahaina Fires
- SARS-CoV-2-specific Immune Responses in Filipinos Residing in Hawaiʻi by Dr. Jourdan McMillan
Kuwentuhan Tayo? Ask a Pinerd About Their Career Journey or Research Project.
Get to know the researchers behind the work! Whether you’re curious about their career path or want to learn more about their research, feel free to ask. Here are some questions you can ask to start the conversation:
- What inspired you to pursue this career/research?
- Can you share more about your current research project?
- How does your work impact the Filipino community in Hawaiʻi?
- What advice do you have for someone interested in this field?
- How do you involve the community in your research?
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Salamat and Agyamanak for your continued support! Stay connected with us @hubforhealth and use #pinerds to explore and share our content.
Ask a Pinerd: Research & Career Journey
Fill out the form to talk story with our members.
Our Team
May Rose Dela Cruz, DrPH, MPH
[she/her] May Rose joined HIPHI in October 2021 to lead the coordination of internal and external plans that increase awareness of public health research, invite collaboration, and promote local efforts to support structures and processes that improve health. She is an Assistant Researcher at UH Office of Public Health Studies and previously held a role as Co-Director at ʻImi Hale Native Hawaiian Cancer Network, Papa Ola Lōkahi. She received her BA in Psychology, MPH in Social & Behavioral Health Science, and DrPH in Community-Based & Translational Research from UH Mānoa. She enjoys baking cupcakes and cookies, and balances it out by growing her own veggies with her family.
