MISSION
Our mission is to empower historically and contemporary marginalized groups, such as Filipino Americans, using nursing science and informatics to create a future where they have equitable access to diabetes prevention and management resources and can live healthy, fulfilling lives. By gathering disaggregated data and analyzing trends in health outcomes and cultural factors, we aim to tailor our interventions to meet the specific needs of these groups and ultimately reduce health disparities.
WHY TENJLAB?
ABOUT THE NAME
Jessie Tolentino, the father of Dr. Tolentino, was a hardworking man who owned a retail shop in Baguio City, Philippines called Ten J. This family business provided income for the family until a devastating earthquake hit Baguio in 1990 and many companies, including Ten J, were unable to recover. The family then immigrated to the US in search of a better life. A few years after moving to the US, Jessie was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and struggled with the disease for over 20 years before passing away from complications in 2017. This loss was a turning point for Dr. Tolentino, a nurse researcher, who realized that his father's struggle with type 2 diabetes was common among Filipino and Asian Americans. Still, their experiences were not adequately represented in research. In honor of his father's legacy, Dr. Tolentino founded TenJLab Research.
WHAT WE DO
The lab aims to center the voices of underrepresented groups, like Filipino and Filipino Americans, in diabetes research. The lab uses nursing science and informatics to improve health outcomes among those with type 2 diabetes. The focus is on culturally sensitive and evidence-based care, considering social and cultural factors such as colonial mentality, digital literacy, local environment, social support, spirituality, and more. The ultimate goal is to reduce health disparities by amplifying the voices of these communities.