IAPAC Co-hosts Reception for Dr. Milad Pooran for Congress
February 22, 2012, Washington, D.C. – On February 12, 2012, PAAIA members and friends gathered in support of Dr. Milad Pooran in his bid for 6th Congressional District of Maryland. The event was co-sponsored by the Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), the connected PAC of the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), and held at the home of Mr. Babak Hoghooghi and Mrs. Parastoo Golestani.
Lieutenant Colonel Milad Pooran, M.D. is a physician who has served his community and country as both a civilian doctor and as a member of the US Air Force Medical Corps. Dr. Pooran immigrated with his parents to the United States from Iran at the age of six and grew up in Beltsville, Maryland. He earned his bachelor degree and his M.D degree from University of Maryland. After completing his residency in internal medicine, Dr. Pooran completed his clinical fellowships at NIH and worked in the Office of the Secretary for Health and Human Services, tackling national biodefense as well as H1N1 pandemic influenza issues in 2009.
Dr. Pooran draws from his on-the-job training as well as his academic background to establish his well-earned credentials to become the first Iranian American elected to the U.S. Congress. “I believe physicians bring a unique mindset to politics. We are trained to be fact-driven, not argument-driven. Doctors analyze information without bias and create a plan of action. We are problem-solvers (something everyone can agree has been in short supply in Congress recently),” Dr. Pooran explains. “My experience in the military will provide an important perspective both on foreign-policy matters but on how they affect our domestic economy and society. I am also sure that the pressures of saving a soldier’s life in combat more than prepare me for any stress being a Congressman might bring.”
Dr. Pooran is one of five candidates running for the Democratic nomination. His campaign has successfully turned this into a three-person race and elevated him into the top tier. His two main opponents in the Democratic primary, scheduled for April 3, 2012, are financier John Delaney and former lobbyist and State Senator Robert Garagiola. Dr. Pooran’s message that he is the counter-narrative to careerism and money influence in politics is resonating well with voters who are frustrated by having their issues relegated to the back burner of politics in this election cycle.
Following his speech, Dr. Pooran spent time speaking to the guests and answering questions. Host Babak Hoghooghi ended the reception by encouraging guests to spread the word and get others to support Dr. Pooran’s candidacy. “Milad is the first Iranian American running for national public office from a district with a significant Iranian American population, and is a viable and credible candidate for the U.S. Congress,” Hoghooghi explained. “Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, Iranian American votes and support can be critical to Milad’s election, which will provide us with a more influential voice in Congress.”
Click here to read PAAIA’s interview with Dr. Milad Pooran.
Click here to learn more about Pooran for Congress and how you can get involved.
Dr. Milad Pooran was recently endorsed and supported by the Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), the connected PAC of PAAIA. IAPAC supports and promotes the election of candidates for federal, state, and local office, regardless of party affiliation, who are attuned to the domestic needs of the of the Iranian American community. IAPAC also encourages and Iranian Americans to actively participate in the American electoral process and supports Iranian American candidates for public office.
