Recognizing Dr. Anthony Chen

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend and colleague Dr. Anthony Chen, who will retire at the end of the month as the Director of Health at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department after serving Washington's communities with care, competence, and compassion for thirty years.

After graduating from Duke University's School of Medicine and completing his residency at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Chen came to Washington in 1993 to serve as a faculty member of the Swedish Family Medicine Residency Program before transitioning into his role as Director of Health at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

For fifteen years, Dr. Chen has promoted positive public health outcomes in Pierce County. He has elevated the conversation and outcomes associated with quality of care, intentionally coordinated with community leaders to improve care delivery to all residents, and advanced cultural competency in public health and medicine.

Through the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Chen worked tirelessly to maintain the Department's structure while facing opposition from misinformation campaigns, continuing the ethos of care in his work that helped set the standard in Washington State. Under Dr. Chen's leadership, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department won the VISION 2050 Award in 2022 for their innovative, equity-minded approach to integrating health into Pierce County's long-term plans and guidance for growth.

I thank my friend and colleague, Dr. Chen, for his service to the Pierce County community and the state of Washington, as well as congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source