The Association of Chinese American Physicians (ACAP) successfully held its 29th Annual Convention on October 20th in Flushing, New York, with the theme “Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.” The 2024 Annual Convention brought together medical professionals and leading experts from across the country to deeply explore the applications, challenges, and future developments of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of medicine.
During the convention, several experts shared cutting-edge applications of AI in medicine, particularly in areas such as disease diagnosis, treatment, and patient management. AI, through data analysis and pattern recognition, can help doctors develop more personalized treatment plans and optimize patient management processes. Experts also discussed issues related to data privacy, security, and ethics in AI applications. They emphasized that the integration of AI with medicine requires industry-wide collaboration and regulation, noting that while the future looks promising, there are still many challenges ahead.
The ACAP 29th Gala, following the conference, was hosted by two internal medicine doctors from Flushing, Dr. Wei Liu and Dr. Qing Zhang. Almost 400 attendees from various institutions, including community members, hospitals, and insurance companies, gathered at the New Mulan Restaurant in Flushing to celebrate the successful event and witness the leadership transition of the Association of Chinese American Physicians. Dr. Jin Li, the outgoing president, passed the role to Dr. Ziqiang Zhu, who practices in Flushing. In his speech, Dr. Zhu reflected on his own experiences, particularly the support he received from ACAP during his residency application and training. He pledged to enhance ACAP’s influence in the community over the next two years, with a special focus on supporting and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals.
During the ACAP 29th Gala, several individuals who made significant contributions to the association were recognized. Among them, the ACAP Volunteer Award was given to Steven Wang, a freshman at UC Berkeley; the ACAP Young Professional Award to Dr. Zhimin Xu; and the ACAP Distinguished Service Award to Drs. Jorge Con, Wei Cui, Jia Hong, Li Lu, Kevin Tin, and Zhanqing Yan. The ACAP Community Service Award went to Councilmember Sandra Ung, the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn, and Fan Zhang. The ACAP Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Jianping Chen, one of the society’s earliest members, in recognition of his eight years of dedicated service as secretary. Representatives from New York City Councilmember Sandra Ung and New York State Assemblymember Ron Kim also presented awards to the society in recognition of its long-standing contributions to the community.
Another highlight of the event was the society’s annual high school science competition. This year’s competition attracted over 60 students. After a rigorous preliminary review by the judges, 20 students advanced to the semifinals, which took place at the Flushing Library on the afternoon of the 19th. The semifinalists presented their research projects to a panel of expert judges using slides and answered their questions, showcasing their innovative abilities. In the end, Divya Jayam from The Wheatley School won the Presidential Award, while several other students received the Outstanding Research Award and the Excellent Research Award. This competition not only provided students with a platform to showcase their talents but also inspired more young people to take an interest in science and medicine. During the Gala, various government officials, including U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng, New York State Assemblyman Ron Kim, and New York City Councilmember Sandra Ung, attended to congratulate the students and present them with certificates. Dr. Fangming Deng, ACAP’s secretary-general and the person in charge of the science competition, emphasized that the Association of Chinese American Physicians’ high school science competition aims to cultivate the next generation’s interest in science and medicine and has grown in influence over the years. He also expressed hope that more high school students interested in medical science would participate in the competition.
Our 29th Annual Gala featured a variety of exciting performances and a thrilling raffle, creating a lively and celebratory atmosphere.
This year’s Annual Convention and Gala not only provided attendees with valuable opportunities for learning and networking but also highlighted the Association of Chinese American Physicians’ ongoing efforts and contributions to advancing medical progress and technological innovation. Through such events, the society continues to demonstrate its leadership in the medical field and its commitment to advancing the future of medicine.
