Screenshot: NBC 10.com
Abington residents may recognize the name Dr. Ala Stanford. The nationally recognized doctor who resides in Abington has deep roots in the Philadelphia region and, now, she is stepping into a new arena: politics.
On Oct. 1, 2025, Stanford announced her campaign for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, a seat being vacated by longtime U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans. With the district anchored in Philadelphia and considered one of the most Democratic in the nation, the Democratic primary will likely decide the race.
“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," Dr Stanford said in a campaign announcement. "That’s why I’m running for Congress, because when I see a problem in our city, I take action to fix it. 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.”
Her career has always focused on bridging gaps in care. She practiced as a pediatric surgeon, but her public profile grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing that testing was scarce in Black neighborhoods, she founded the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium. What began as mobile units in church parking lots turned into a lifesaving initiative, providing tests and later vaccinations for tens of thousands of Philadelphians. In 2021, she opened the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity in North Philadelphia, a neighborhood clinic serving residents who often lacked access to primary care.
President Joe Biden took notice, appointing Stanford in 2022 as the Mid-Atlantic regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. More recently, she joined the University of Pennsylvania as a professor and director of community outreach for its Institute for RNA Innovation. Alongside those roles, she has written a memoir, Take Care of Them Like My Own, sharing the personal journey that shaped her mission.
Now, Stanford is turning that mission toward Congress. At her campaign launch in East Germantown, she framed her candidacy around fairness, perseverance, and showing up for Philadelphia. She points to issues such as health equity, safer communities, fair wages, and strong public schools as central to her platform. In her words, doctors don’t just see policy numbers, they see lives.
Her candidacy has already attracted major support. Congressman Evans, who is stepping down after years in the seat, endorsed her to succeed him. Early polling also suggests she has a base of support across demographics, from Black men to LGBTQ+ voters to homeowners. Still, she faces a crowded field, including State Sen. Sharif Street, State Reps. Chris Rabb and Morgan Cephas, and even another physician, ICU doctor David Oxman.
“Dr. Ala Stanford is a compassionate and dedicated public servant, and I am proud to endorse her campaign for Congress," Rep. 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."
Born in Germantown in 1970, she was raised by a teenage mother, sometimes relying on Section 8 housing and public assistance. She attended public schools before earning her undergraduate and medical degrees at Penn State. From there, she pursued surgical training across the country, eventually becoming the first African American woman in the United States to complete full pediatric surgery training domestically.
