5/19/2025
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Posted by Dr. Li Lu, Rendr Group Physician
in
In The Community
As a first-generation immigrant from China, I have lived in the beautiful United States for 24 years. For 18 of those years, my stethoscope has touched the heartbeat of New York City where nearly 15 percent of its population is of Asian heritage.
Like many New Yorkers, we are blessed to be both observers of and participants in the development of our community. Each May, in observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, I am encouraged to ask, "Who am I? What have I built? What is left to heal?"
The 2025 AAPI Heritage Month theme is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.” This creates a spark to enlighten our minds to understand the meaning of endurance, because as physicians, we know resilience intimately. We fight invisible battles every day, from diseases to fears to disappointments.
The global situation requires our physicians to evaluate more comprehensive diagnostic criteria, make medicine more evidence-based, and create more value to society. Both the white coat and the suit are our uniforms and discipline us to participate in national healthcare reform and share the responsibility of local disease prevention.
We all are leaders not because we seek a shining title or more incentives. Leadership is a duty to each of us in building a more united and connected community. Physicians understand that every person in the community deserves more balanced and organized healthcare to increase their happiness and longevity. With help from insurance companies like Fidelis Care, our expectations are happening now.
Challenges come from everywhere, every day. We are together not only during AAPI Heritage Month, but also in each of the four seasons. Let the month of May be more than a celebration month. Each of us makes history every single day. Go strong!
Li Lu, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician in New York City. Since 2011, Dr. Lu has served as a pillar of community health, founding East Sunrise Medical PLLC in 2013 and establishing practices in Brooklyn and Flushing. Passionate about aesthetic and integrative care, she launched LL Blossoms Medicine in 2021, blending cosmetic and holistic approaches. A steadfast advocate for primary care, Dr. Lu joined and helped Excelsior Integrated Medical Group merge with Rendr Group in 2022, amplifying collaborative patient-centered services. Her career reflects a commitment to innovation, education, and bridging diverse medical disciplines to enhance patient outcomes.