Pennsylvania State Representative, District 194 — serving since 2023. Representative Tarik Khan made history as the first Pakistani American and the first advanced practice registered nurse sworn into the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He represents Philadelphia—the city where he was born and raised. The son of a Pakistani immigrant father and a nurse mother, Representative Khan credits his family and diverse background with inspiring him to speak out against injustice and serve others. Following in his mother’s footsteps, he built a nursing career spanning nearly two decades. In 2011 he became a nurse practitioner, and in 2022 he earned his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Representative Khan co-created a program that expanded vaccine access for people with disabilities. The initiative was recognized at a White House/CDC forum and featured in an Emmy Award-winning documentary. His leadership also includes serving as president of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association and founding Enabling Minds, an organization supporting children with developmental disabilities. In the legislature, Representative Khan has passed legislation that expands children’s access to healthcare, supports caregivers and people living with Alzheimer’s disease, funds affordable housing, protects veterans exposed to Agent Orange and burn pits, and helps safeguard houses of worship and LGBTQ+ community centers against hate crimes. His work shows how nurses can carry their commitment to advocacy from the bedside to the statehouse—and turn their expertise and experience into meaningful policy change.