Clinical Research: Why Diversity Matters

Diversity in clinical research leads to better treatments by recognizing how health conditions and treatments affect different communities. AANHPI populations remain underrepresented, creating gaps in research and limiting effective care. Inclusive studies help refine medical practices and improve health outcomes by considering genetic, cultural and environmental factors. This panel will explore the need for diverse participation in clinical trials and discuss strategies to increase representation for better science and better health.

Dr. Winston Wong, MD, MS, FAAFP

CEO and Chair

National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP)

MODERATOR

Winston Wong, MD, MS, FAAFP, is a Scholar in Residence at the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity at the Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA.  A fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, Dr. Wong’s professional career has encompassed leadership roles at community health centers, federal service and most recently at Kaiser Permanente, where he served as Medical Director for Community Benefit for over 17 years.  His commitment to addressing health equity is anchored by his experience as a bilingual primary care community health center physician for the Asian immigrant community in Oakland Chinatown, which led him to leadership roles in the United States Public Health Service, where he served as HRSA’s chief Clinical Officer for a region than spanned the Pacific and western United States.  At Kaiser Permanente, he was responsible for its national philanthropic strategies to support clinical and population management initiatives with the safety net, and for its quality initiatives to address disparities within its 12 million members.  In 2016 he was appointed to the US DHHS Advisory Committee on Minority Health, and in 2019 was appointed chair.  At the NASEM he chairs the Roundtable on Health Equity and has served on the Board of Population Health and Public Health Practice.  As a leader in philanthropy, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board at the California Endowment and a current Board member of Grantmakers in Health.  He also previously served as Board Chair for the School Based Health Alliance and is the current acting CEO and Chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians.  He is also a strategic advisor to the Oakland based Asian-Black Healing and Trauma Project.  His work in developing programs and policies to address health equity has been recognized by awards from the California Primary Care Association, Latino Health Access, the Minority Health Foundation, Asian Health Services, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee.  In addition to his 2020 Scholar in Residence appointment at UCLA, Dr. Wong received a Doctor of Humane Letters from the A.T. Still School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Naheed Ahmed, PhD, MPH, MA

Assistant Professor

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Naheed Ahmed, PhD, MPH, MA (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She is a mixed methods researcher who studies discrimination, chronic diseases, mental health, and comorbid disorders. Her research uses community-engaged approaches and is primarily with immigrant and minority racial/ethnic populations with a focus on South Asian and Muslim communities.

Jenny Garcia

Associate Director, Trial Equity & Representation

Takeda

Jenny Garcia is a seasoned clinical research leader with extensive expertise in advancing diversity and inclusion across clinical trials. She has developed strategic frameworks and community engagement programs that promote equitable access to research—grounded in targeted awareness, education, and long-term partnerships with academic institutions. Her work focuses on reaching underserved populations and fostering inclusive trial environments. Jenny’s background spans integrated patient recruitment and retention strategy, cross-functional collaboration, and is supported by a foundation in consumer marketing across multiple industries.

Dr. Kekoa Taparra, PhD, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor

UCLA

Dr. Kekoa Taparra is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and the Department of Radiation Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine. As a physician-scientist with multidisciplinary training across basic science, clinical medicine, and public health, Dr. Taparra conducts research at the intersection of molecular oncology, survivorship, health services, and cancer disparities.

He earned his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he studied the molecular mechanisms of oncogene-induced senescence and reprogramming in lung cancer through a novel sugar metabolism pathway. He was funded by a NIH NCI F31 Award under the mentorship of Dr. Phuoc Tran. He then pursued his MD at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, graduating with a certification in the Science of Health Care Delivery. During his medical training, he focused on identifying strategies to reduce cardiotoxicity from cancer therapies and quantifying bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. To further integrate population health perspectives into his research, he completed his MPH at Hawaiʻi Pacific University as a Graduate Merit Scholar. His thesis applied complex survey analysis methods to nationally representative datasets from the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Taparra completed his clinical residency, chief residency year, and postdoctoral medical fellowship at Stanford University in the Department of Radiation Oncology. He trained under nationally recognized leaders in the field, gaining comprehensive experience in treating a broad range of cancers using advanced technologies in radiation therapy. His current research spans prostate cancer survivorship, comorbidity burden in cancer, the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in oncology, climate health, and Pacific Islander health. He is particularly interested in bridging molecular and clinical research with population-level data to improve cancer health equity.

Dr. Taparra has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters, with work published in leading journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and JAMA. His research has received support from ASTRO, ASCO, AACR, ASH, AHA, NIH, and the National Medical Fellowships. He received the the inaugural ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation Endowed Dr. Judith and Alan Kaur Young Investigator Award and a Robert A. Winn Career Development Award.

As a Native Hawaiian born and raised on Oʻahu and as a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, Dr. Taparra is committed to improving health equity for underserved communities, with a particular interest in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander health. At UCLA, he leads a diverse research team that contextualizes cancer disparities through cultural, clinical, and policy lenses. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists, working with over 20 undergraduate, graduate, and medical trainees in his lab. As a member of the inaugural cohort of the Obama Foundation Leaders USA program, he is equally dedicated to leadership, community engagement, and advocacy in academic medicine and public health. He holds a steadfast mission to make advancements across the cancer care continuum for all patients, so they can live healthier and longer lives.

Bella Tukuafu Johnson

Founder & CEO

Kalo Clinical Research

Bella is the 9^th of 14 children of Tomasi (Tongan from Tonga) and Irene (mostly English European from California) Tukuafu, raised in Punalu’u on Oʻahu’s North Shore. She, like so many, left the islands with her to family to meet basic needs. Guided throughout by exceptional mentors, she brings over 25 years of experience starting as a Study Coordinator at the University of Utah. Six years ago, Bella founded Kalo Clinical Research with a clear vision: to ensure that all communities are represented and included in medical research.  In her spare time, Bella enjoys playing the piano, board games and loves anything passion fruit flavored.