Tarik Khan (Pennsylvania politician)

Khan was born on October 14, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of a Pakistani immigrant father and a Catholic mother. Khan's father, Zia, came to the US in 1964 to attend graduate school at The University of Pennsylvania and met Patricia Klein, a nurse of German, Polish, and Scottish descent at a Philadelphia party. Khan's older brother, Joseph, was born in 1975. Khan grew up Muslim in a Jewish neighborhood in Philadelphia.[3] Khan attended Joseph J. Greenberg School, a public K-8 school in Bustleton, Philadelphia and graduated from Central High School of Philadelphia in 1996.[4] Khan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Davidson College in 2000.[5]

Khan was an intern on The Tonight Show in college and later worked as a production assistant on the show. Khan was a member of AFTRA labor union, and became eligible to join SAG (now SAG-AFTRA) after being cast in a skit on the portraying a KFC employee selling marijuana to a customer -- portrayed in the show by Khan and Kevin Eubanks.[6][7]

He graduated from Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as a Graduate nurse in 2003, and later earned a Master of Science degree in nursing from the School of Nursing at La Salle University. Khan earned a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2023.[2]

Khan co-created a non-profit called Enabling Minds to help children with developmental disabilities in Croix-des-Bouquets attend school for the first time in their lives. [8]

Khan served as President of The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA). As PSNA President, Khan led the successful effort to help Pennsylvania join the Nurse Licensure Compact,[9] cancel a quarter-million in patient medical debt,[10] and built a coalition with nursing unions and advocacy organizations to help write and introduce the landmark nursing safe staffing legislation the Patient Safety Act. [11]

Khan led efforts during the pandemic to help Philadelphians with accessibility barriers to access COVID testing and the vaccine. He helped sound the alarm early on regarding the lack of attention from the Trump administration to mitigate the crisis, and was a relentless advocate for federal support to states during the pandemic. [12][13]

Khan created the Angel Dose vaccination program with Anna Perng.[14] Their novel program was recognized by the White House as an innovative model to assist communities with accessibility barriers, and the majority of the over 900 home COVID-19 vaccinations provided by Khan were performed after work or on his days off. [15] Khan and Perng were recognized for their work by GMA3: What You Need to Know, [16] People Magazine, [17] and The Philadelphia Inquirer. [18]

Khan stands with faith and legislative leaders outside the PA Capitol calling for legislation to increase and bolster anti-hate crimes legislation in Pennsylvania.

Khan is the subject of a documentary by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sami Khan called Angel Dose.[19]

Khan's brother, Joe, is a former federal prosecutor and former solicitor of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Joe is currently running for Pennsylvania Attorney General in 2024.[20]

In 2022, Khan defeated incumbent Pennsylvania State Representative Pam DeLissio from the 194th District in a Democratic primary challenge.[21] He then won in the general election, defeating Libertarian nominee Torren Danowski with 90% of the vote.[22]

Khan is both the first Pakistani-American lawmaker and first advanced practice nurse ever elected to the Pennsylvania legislature.[23]

In his first term, Khan helped lead the passage of five bipartisan bills through the PA House:

• HB 106, The Patient Safety Act, which Khan helped to write & champion, this bill is estimated to save 100 Pennsylvania lives each month due to improved nurse staffing standards in hospitals [Prime Sponsors: Mehaffie, Tomlinson & Kosierowski] [25][26]

• HB 1316, which would nearly double the affordable housing investments in Pennsylvania through the PA Housing and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund [Innamorato, Khan, Twardzik, Major, Kutz] [27]

• HB 1173, which promotes universally accessible playground construction in Pennsylvania [Khan, Flick, Cerrato, Hanbidge] [28]

• HR 77, which calls attention to the need to support persons living with cognitive impairment & their caregivers and accelerate the development of a cure to Alzheimer's Disease [Khan, Kim, Probst, Cerrato, Frankel, Green, Shusterman, Salisbury][29]

• HB 78, which would cancel medical debt for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians [Venkat, Bullock, Kosierowski, Khan, Pisciottano] [30]

• Khan, Tarik S (2013). Self-Efficacy in Vulnerable Populations: Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Persons Experiencing Homelessness with Complex Health and Psychosocial Needs (Thesis).
• Khan, Tarik S.; Hirschman, Karen B.; McHugh, Matthew D.; Naylor, Mary D. (January 2021). "Self‐efficacy of family caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment: A concept analysis". Nursing Forum. 56 (1): 112–126. doi:10.1111/nuf.12499. PMC 8549654. PMID 32888197.
• Khan, T. S.; Osokpo, O.; Schrand, S. (2019). "Book review of Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight Against Medical Discrimination". Journal of Nursing Doctoral Students Scholarship. 7 (17–20).

The Philadelphia Inquirer awarded Khan its Influencers of Healthcare Award for Excellence in Volunteerism in 2019.[31]

Khan won the American Association of Nurse Practitioner's State Award for Nursing Advocacy for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2019.[32]

A resolution on April 29, 2021, sponsored by 11 Philadelphia City Council Members, was adopted, "recognizing Tarik Khan's incredible leadership and contributions to the health and well-being of Philadelphians and extending appreciation and admiration for his efforts to vaccinate Philadelphia residents against COVID-19."[33]

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities Awarded Khan and disability rights advocate Anna Perng its Outstanding National Advocate Award in August 2021 for their advocacy for persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.[34]

Khan and Anna Perng were both awarded the City of Philadelphia's Chief Service Officer Award, which recognizes "unique contributions to the city through collaborative service" in April 2022.[35]

Khan was awarded the 2022 American Association of Nurse Practitioner's State Award for Clinical Excellence as a Nurse Practitioner for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[36]

Khan received the "Pandemic Warrior Award" for his clinical care during the pandemic from The Family Practice and Counseling Network in January 2023.[37]

City & State Pennsylvania listed Khan as #8 in its Top 100 AAPI difference makers in PA in May 2023. [38]

• Official Web Site