Rising Tides: Voices of Asian America

Dr. Leana Wen is a practicing physician, healthcare executive, and op-ed columnist for The Washington Post. She previously served as President of Planned Parenthood, as well as Baltimore’s Health Commissioner, leading the nation’s oldest continuously operating health department to fight the opioid epidemic, address disparities and mental health access, and improve maternal and child health. 

Lily Qi represents the 15th legislative district in the Maryland House of Delegates. Born in Shanghai amidst the Cultural Revolution, she is the first Chinese-born state legislator in Maryland. Prior to entering elected politics, she worked under Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, becoming the first Asian American to serve as Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Montgomery County. 

Vanna Howard serves in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 17th Middlesex District, which includes portions of Lowell and Tewksbury. She was born in Cambodia but in 1979 fled the Cambodian genocide and immigrated to the United States. She is the first Khmer woman to serve in the Massachusetts General Court.

Dr. Saud Anwar is a Connecticut State Senator representing the 3rd District. He was previously the Mayor of South Windsor from 2013-2015 and 2017-2019, when upon being elected, he became Connecticut’s first Muslim mayor. He is a pulmonary physician by training and has served as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine with Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospitals. 

Chuen-Chin Bianca Chang is a member of the Maryland State Board of Education. Her record of public service has included serving as President of the National Council of Associations of Chinese Language Schools; serving as a member of the Howard County Human Rights Commission; and managing the Health Alliance Pediatric Clinic, a free clinic serving under-privileged children in Howard County.