January
Name: Alan Wang, ABC 7 anchor and reporter
Ethnicity: Chinese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "I've lost two uncles and a grandfather to liver cancer. My mother has hepatitis B and all of my siblings were also infected at birth. I have been using my access to the media to help inform the public about this disease."
February
Name: Angelica Yi, Miss Asian America 2010-2012, Miss Scholastic Achievement and Miss Popularity
Ethnicity: Korean
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "As a Korean American pageant title holder, I've volunteered for various hepatitis B awareness events, including the annual Hep B Free Gala, in which I helped sell raffle tickets to help fund raise for this cause."
March
Name: Fiona Ma, California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
Ethnicity: Chinese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "As someone with hepatitis B and an elected official, I've been proud to be the honorary spokesperson for San Francisco Hep B Free since the program's inception in 2007. I've made it my mission to help educate people about this vaccine preventable disease nationwide."
April
Name: Max Niu, Creative Coordinator
Ethnicity: Chinese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "As a Creative Coordinator behind San Francisco Hep B Free's groundbreaking 2010 'Which One Deserves to Die' ad campaign for a multilingual Asian American audience, I helped garner nationwide media attention for hepatitis B."
May
Name: Kris Mizutani, nurse
Ethnicity: Japanese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "As a nurse, I work with patients who are hepatitis B positive, and discuss with them how to identify and manage symptoms. I always encourage all my patients to seek primary care, and connect them with the services of local Department of Public Health affiliated clinics."
June
Name: Mike Honda, California Congressman, 15th District
Ethnicity: Japanese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "I have worked for many years to bring the issue of viral hepatitis to the national forefront as the lead sponsor of several pieces of hepatitis legislation in recent congresses."
July
Name: Diana Tran, nursing student
Ethnicity: Vietnamese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "As a Vietnamese American working with youth and families, I believe the first step in eliminating hepatitis B is by educating our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and beyond. Be a Hep B hero! Break the silence and save lives!"
August
Name: Vickie Cheung Martynenko, pharmaceutical representative
Ethnicity: Chinese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "Working in the pharmaceutical industry with physician offices and hospitals, I've been battling hepatitis B for years. I have been helping make sure that all diagnosed patients are receiving first line treatment agents."
September
Name: Frank H. Wu, Chancellor and Dean of University of California Hastings College of the Law
Ethnicity: Chinese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "I didn't know anything about hepatitis B until I received my shots for a trip abroad. I decided to learn more about the disease and realized that it is a problem we can all solve if we work together to educate the community."
October
Name: Sandy Keo, engineer
Ethnicity: Cambodian
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "As a big proponent of Western medicine, I encourage everyone to get their hepatitis B shots today. This disease is vaccine preventable!"
November
Name: Kelly Banh, volunteer
Ethnicity: Vietnamese
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "My father may have lost his battle with liver cancer, but instead of dwelling on our family's loss, I've used the tragedy to raise awareness for hepatitis B through public speaking events."
December
Name: Angelo Mathay, law student
Ethnicity: Filipino
Why I'm a Hep B Hero: "I am a Hep B Hero because I got tested for hepatitis B this year after learning of my uncle's liver problems. I've encouraged my entire family and friends to get tested for hepatitis B."
