Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors Consortium, announces run for Congress

Dr. Ala Stanford, a nationally celebrated public health leader and founder of the Black Doctors Consortium, announced her run for Congress.

During a press conference on Wednesday, October 1, in her hometown of Germantown, Stanford, along with family, friends, and supporters, kicked off her campaign for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district.

“As a doctor and a community leader in Philadelphia, I go to work every day to serve our most vulnerable neighbors and families, but we’re up against a system that simply doesn’t work for working families and people in need. That’s why I’m running for Congress, because when I see a problem in our city, I take action to fix it,” said Dr. Stanford. “The people I serve every day at 21st and Lehigh in North Philadelphia deserve so much more than the status quo. They deserve safe streets, affordable housing, good schools, jobs that pay living wages, and basic, quality health care. I know what it means when our supposed leaders like Donald Trump fail us. I’ve seen it, I’ve lived it, and I’ve stepped up to lead when he turned his back on our city. That’s why this campaign is about stepping up and continuing to fight for Philadelphia.”

Stanford enters a crowded primary race with the backing of longtime U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, who will retire at the end of his sixth term next year.

“Dr. Ala Stanford is a compassionate and dedicated public servant, and I am proud to endorse her campaign for Congress,” U.S. Representative Dwight Evans shared in a news release. “Dr. Stanford was born and raised in Philadelphia, and like so many of our neighbors, she faced significant challenges growing up, but every step of the way, she overcame those challenges, succeeded through hard work, and never forgot where she came from.  At this moment in history, Congress needs more fighters to push back against this administration and I know Dr. Stanford is ready to represent Philadelphia and be that champion for the people of this city and the region.”

Stanford, a practicing physician for more than 20 years and board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in both pediatric and adult general surgery, rose to prominence in Philadelphia for her work responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She received national recognition in April 2020 when she founded the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, which focused on testing and vaccinating Philadelphia residents against the coronavirus, especially those in the African American community who had been disproportionately affected during the pandemic. 

Stanford additionally founded and built the Center for Health Equity, where she currently works, to provide expert healthcare to Philadelphians, including those in the zip code with the city’s lowest life expectancy.

“I know how to serve our city’s poorest and most vulnerable families because I grew up in one of them.  I was born at Broad and Olney, raised at 18th and Erie, and every day, I see firsthand just how devastating President Trump’s extreme MAGA policies are for communities across Philadelphia,” said Dr. Stanford.  “Whether it’s cuts to health care programs or gutting funding for food programs, education, and affordable housing, Philadelphia needs a champion who will stand up for the support our city deserves.  We will not sit quietly while an anti-science President throws temper tantrums and calls it policy and uses his office to attack and destroy people who don’t go along with his corruption. That’s not going to happen here in Philadelphia.”

In 2022, Biden had also appointed Stanford as the HHS Regional Director of Region 3 as part of his administration’s effort to rebuild communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Then in 2024, she was appointed Professor of Practice in Biology at the University of Pennsylvania with two additional appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine and Annenberg School for Communication.

Stanford is also a medical correspondent for local and national news outlets.