Rep. Tarik Khan's Biography

Tarik Khan was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 194th Legislative District in Philadelphia on November 8, 2022, representing Manayunk, Roxborough, parts of Chestnut Hill, and East Falls. Tarik is a Philadelphia native, born and raised there, and is a graduate of Central High School.  

Tarik followed in the footsteps of his mother, who is a nurse; Tarik has been a registered nurse for nearly two decades and has been a nurse practitioner since 2011. His father emigrated to Philadelphia from Pakistan to build a better life for himself. Tarik credits his parents and his diverse background for his urge to not only speak out about injustice but to fight against it. 

In his job as a frontline nurse, Tarik worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic and co-created a vaccine program for persons with disabilities that he presented at a White House/CDC forum. Tarik's work was featured in People Magazine and Good Morning AMerica - GMA3 and was profiled in the award-winning documentary, "Angel Dose." Tarik received his Ph.D. from The University of Pennsylvania in December 2022, and his current research focuses on improving access to health care for marginalized communities, especially those with disabilities. Tarik is the former President of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association and founder and chairperson of Enabling Minds, which supports the education of children with developmental disabilities. 

Khan has won several awards for his advocacy, including NACDD's Champions of Equal Opportunity Award for Advocacy, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Influencers of Healthcare Award, and Billy Penn's Who's Next: Community Leader Award. He also has been cited for his work by The Philadelphia City Council and The Pennsylvania House of Representatives.