NEW YORK: Indian-American state representative Amish Shah announced that he will be running for Congress in Arizona's first Congressional District, which is currently held by Republican David Schweikert.
An emergency doctor for more than 15 years, Shah, a Democrat, has been representing districts in the Phoenix area as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives since 2019.
"I am running for Congress because I have witnessed the impact single person can have on the government to better the lives of citizens. Shah stated in a statement declaring his candidature that "serving in Congress is an opportunity to make an even greater positive impact on issues affecting Arizona." He has visited over 15,000 homes, according to his campaign statement, and has established a reputation for himself through his distinct style of door-to-door campaigning. To date, he has had more measures passed into law than any other Democrat serving in the Arizona legislature.
Giving back is one of my key values. I was able to become a doctor, work on the pitch with the NFL, and become the first Indian-American to serve in the Arizona legislature thanks to the sacrifices made by my parents, who both immigrated to this nation from India in search of a better life, Shah said.
Shah's parents, who moved from India in the 1960s as engineering students, were born and raised in Chicago. He studied at Northwestern University in Evanston and received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with honours.
He completed the Honours Programme in Medical Education and received his medical degree from Northwestern University. He set up the first Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival as a charitable venture to advance healthy eating and eradicate preventable disease outside of his medical practise.
If we want to address important issues facing our nation, such as public education, excellent, affordable healthcare, climate change, and voting rights, we must work to understand one another and work through our differences. It would be an honour to discuss these concerns in the US Congress on behalf of Arizonans, Shah added. He has advocated for increasing access to care and improving Arizona's healthcare workforce, and has has leveraged his medical expertise to become a steadfast voice for improving health care for all Arizonans, , the campaign statement read.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology recognised him as the 2022 Women's Health Care Champion Legislator of the Year for his efforts to defend reproductive rights.
Shah also received the Arizona Nurses Association's Nursing Hero Award and the Arizona Psychiatric Society's President's Award for Mental Health Advocacy in the previous year.
He also contributes to Humane Society organizations of the United States and Sounds Academy that focus on children's exposure to the arts and the promotion of a kind society, as well as several other charities.
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