Welcome to the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition
Promoting wellness and health equity for the Hmong American community
Promoting wellness and health equity for the Hmong American community

The Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition (HHCPC) was founded in 1995 by Mao Heu-Thao during the early years of Hmong resettlement in Minnesota. This period was characterized by significant health challenges and a lack of trust between the Hmong community and the healthcare system. In response, HHCPC emerged as a vital bridge to provide culturally informed care, educate the community, and foster understanding, all aimed at improving Hmong health equity and advancing health research to enhance Hmong public health.

We are a volunteer board of passionate healthcare professionals united by a shared purpose—to promote Hmong health equity and make life healthier and brighter for the Hmong community through care, partnership, education, research and providing cultural consultation to create culturally informed care. Our efforts are supported by our partners, community members and volunteers of the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition.
Executive Board (from left):
Nachia Larson (Sec),
Ngia Mua (PR),
Dr. Yeng Yang (Chair),
Mao Heu Thao (Co-Treasurer),
Maytinee Xiong (Treasurer), &
Mai See Lee (Co-Chair).

We are deeply grateful to our healthcare partners who, over the years, have collaborated with the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition to provide vaccines, health screenings, and education to the Hmong community. Together, we also engage in Hmong health research and share insights that promote culturally informed care, improve health outcomes, and address the unique healthcare challenges faced by our community in the pursuit of Hmong health equity.
(Note: We partner with many healthcare and non-healthcare organizations to further our mission. Their logos may not be represented on this page but we value their partnerships equally.)
At the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition (HHCPC), our mission is to advance Hmong health equity for the Hmong American community through culturally informed care, direct healthcare services, education, partnerships, mentorship, and Hmong health research.
HHCPC is partnering with Mayo clinic and the MN Liver Health Collaborative to understand liver diseases in the Hmong community and how to educate the community on the importance of screening for known causes of liver disease such as hepatitis B, alcohol liver disease, and fatty (metabolic) liver disease which can progress to liver failure and liver cancer. HHCPC has conducted a series of community listening sessions focused on liver disease and liver cancer to better understand both awareness and barriers to care. During these sessions, community members shared what they curretly know about hepatitis B, fatty liver, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, and what worries them most about these conditions. Facilitators used plain language education and culturally informed discussion to explain how liver disease develops, why ealry screening is important, and what treatments are available, while inviting stories, questions, and lived experiences from participants.
Through these conversations, HHCPC gathered important insights about barriers to getting screened and treated in the current healthcare system. Themes raised included limited knowledge about liver disease, fear and stigma, language and interpretation challenges, concerns about mistrust or past negative experiences with healthcare.
The feedback from these listening sessions is being used to shape more culturally responsive outreach, improve educational materials, and inform partnerships with health systems so that screening and treatment for liver diseases are more accessible, understandable, and more respectful for the communities HHCPC serves.
Recent evidence shows that stroke is especially common and concerning within the Hmong community. In a study patients from 2010-2019, Hmong individuals were found to have strokes at younger ages than White patiets-on average 11 years earlier for ischemic stroke and even more strikingly for brain-bleed (hemorrhagic) stroke. Moreover, Hmong patients were twice likely to suffer hemorrhagic strokes compared with their White peers (31% v.s. 15%). These findings suggest our community carries a disproportionate burden of stroke-with earlier onset, more severe forms, and often worse risk-factor control (e.g., higher blood sugar, poorer cholesterol control and blood pressure control).
Given these disparities, there is an urgent need for focused commuity outreach, culturally appropriate stroke education, early screening, and preventative care. This is why HHCPC is partnering with Wilder Research and HNA to work with the American Stroke Association to create a culturally informed education campaign. We are conducting conversations with the Hmong community to hear what their understanding of stroke is and how we can better educate the community. We are also conducting interviews with healthcare professionals who take care of stroke patients. If you are interested in participating in these conversations, please contact Miamoua at Wilder Research at Miamoua.vang@wilder.org.
In November 2025, Dr. Yeng M. Yang delivered an educational presentation focused on common cancer prevention in women at the Cancer Free Future Community Conference held at the University of Minnesota in partnership with the Masonic Cancer Cetner. Dr. Yang provided accessible, culturally informed education on breast, cervical, liver, colon, and skin cancer, emphasizing the importance of early detection, recommended screenings, prevention strategies, and lifestyle factors that reduce risk. The session supported community awareness in a culturally relevant manner, encouraged proactive health behaviors, and reinforced the value of regular screening and timely medical care in improving cancer outcomes for women.
During this conference, community members had the opportunity to be screened for breast cancer with free mammography and learned on how to get signed up for colon cancer screening.
HHCPC is partnering with the University of MN School of Public Health and M Health to provide HPV education and vaccines. HPV is a virus and certain high risk serotypes cause cervical cancer. For more information in both English and Hmong language, go to hmonghpv.com
HHCPC has partnered with M Health Fairview Community Outreach to put on several flu clinics within the Hmong Community in 2025 as we have every year since 2019. For the latest flu clinic, go to facebook.com/hhcpc
HHCPC is developing a pipeline of future healthcare leaders by providing volunteer opportunities and meaningful experiences for students and young people interested in health careers. This work helps inspire and prepare the next generation to serve and lead in community health. If you are interested in serving as a mentor or if you are interested to be mentored, please contact us.

Help us advance our mission of promoting Hmong health equity through your generous donation to the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition (HHCPC). Together, we can foster culturally informed care and drive impactful Hmong health research for a healthier community!
Sign up to partner with the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition or explore volunteering opportunities that promote culturally informed care and advance Hmong health equity through Hmong health research and public health initiatives.
We love our volunteers who play a crucial role in promoting culturally informed care. Their efforts support the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition in advancing Hmong health equity and enhancing Hmong health research initiatives, ultimately benefiting Hmong public health.
33 Wentworth Avenue East, Suite 167, West Saint Paul, MN, USA
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