SONDH Faculty Member Joins National Public Health Leadership Team

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is one of the most influential voices in the nation’s public health landscape—bringing together experts, advocates, and communities to improve the health of all U.S. residents. Now, a familiar face from the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (SONDH) will be helping to lead the charge: Associate Professor and Director of Cultural Innovation and Strategy Donna-Marie Palakiko, PhD. 

During APHA’s annual meeting in Minneapolis last November, as Dr. Palakiko was busy giving a presentation, APHA’s governing council announced that she had been elected to the organization’s Executive Board. A colleague from Hawaii rushed over to share the news.

“I applied because I wanted to see change and bring an Indigenous perspective to the APHA Board,” Dr. Palakiko said. Encouraged to run by the late Professor John Casken and Michael Bird, past APHA president and the only Native American/Indigenous person to hold that role. Dr. Palakiko secured additional letters of support from colleagues in Hawaii before being named one of six candidates for three open seats.

This is far from Dr. Palakiko’s first APHA involvement. She is the immediate past chair of the American Indian Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Caucus and has served as an abstract reviewer, scholarship reviewer and representative on the Caucus Collaborative. Her membership spans multiple sections and caucuses, from Public Health Nursing to International Health and the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus.

As a board member, Dr. Palakiko  will serve a three-year term and participate in two committees: one focused on securing sponsorships for APHA’s annual conference and another on ensuring the organization’s long-term sustainability. Board members hold fiduciary responsibility, help set APHA’s strategic direction, and attend meetings both in person and online throughout the year.

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