Doctor. Mom. Democrat
I’m a proud second-generation Chinese-American. My parents immigrated to the United States with their parents in the 1960s after a generation of hardship following the Second World War. With the help of family, friends, scholarships, and no shortage of good luck, each of my parents graduated from college and medical school.
My parents achieved their American Dream with hard work, perseverance, and belief in the American promise that equal opportunity is available to all. It’s a work ethic and belief that my grandparents and parents have instilled deeply in me.
I grew up in New York City, the product of a strong public-school education. I graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. I was elected to serve in student body government and deeply imbued with the school’s motto: “Not to be served, but to serve.”
After college, I returned to New York City for medical school at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. I stayed on at Columbia to do residency training in both pediatrics and anesthesiology.
I met my husband, Joseph Walrath, in medical school — he’s an oculoplastic surgeon. After residency, we were working and raising our young family in New York City. Like many transplants, my family and I moved to Atlanta in 2008 for career opportunities. And like many families with young children, we chose Johns Creek to put down roots because of the diverse community, excellent public schools, and safe, friendly neighborhoods.
Joe and I are the proud parents of three energetic children, Cal (16), Mack (12) and Nina (9), who all attend Fulton County public schools – carpooling for a high schooler, a middle schooler and an elementary schooler can be quite the challenge. All three children are students of the William Pu Music Academy in Alpharetta. Cal is also a cellist with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Mack is really into computers now and Nina enjoys shadowing her parents with her first-aid kit. We live in the St Ives neighborhood with our two dogs, Spot and Bailey.
I’ve been practicing anesthesiology for more than ten years and I’m an equity partner at Physician Specialists in Anesthesia, a private practice group. As a partner, I also oversee operational aspects of our small business.
I became a doctor to help people and fix difficult problems. But I’ve discovered that health isn’t simply about one’s blood pressure or weight. Our health is determined by many factors, such as access to healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and safety. By the time our patients get to us, if they can get to us at all, our efforts are often just putting a dressing on a larger wound we don’t have the power to heal at the bedside.
So in 2017, I enrolled at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, where I earned a Master’s in Public Health. Diving deep into healthcare policy, economics, and law led me to realize I need to expand my role of public service to fulfill my doctor’s oath.
In 2020, I was elected to serve as State Senator for District 48, which encompassed a wide, diverse swath of Fulton and Gwinnett counties, including the city of Johns Creek. I’m the only Democratic physician in the General Assembly, the only Senate member with an advanced degree in public health, and the first Asian woman to serve in the Georgia Senate.
During my freshman year as your State Senator, I’ve worked hard to advance common sense, responsible public policy. I’ve authored a patient protection bill for emergency care coverage, gun safety legislation, and bills increasing cultural competency and in-language outreach by law enforcement. I’ve co-sponsored bills to protect voting rights, lower prescription drug costs, enhance family medical leave, promote Medicaid expansion, ensure patient consumer protections, and to end the daylight savings time standard among others.
I serve on the following committees: Health and Human Services, Retirement, Science and Technology, and State and Local Governmental Operations. I also co-chair of the bi-partisan General Assembly Working Group on Addiction and Recovery.
In addition to being an outspoken advocate on Georgia’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, I have been a passionate supporter of Georgia’s Asian and Pacific Islanders American rights and concerns. The mass shootings of Asian women on March 16, 2021 was a tragedy that brought national attention to the increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in Georgia, and across the country. As I shared in my floor speech on March 15, 2021, these are not new crimes, but the economic and public health insecurities of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought these issues to the forefront. As one of the few Asian-American legislators in the state, I will continue to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of all underserved communities.
The Georgia General Assembly completed its once-in-a-decade process of redistricting in 2021, and Senate District 48 was the sole Senate district targeted purposefully by the Republican majority party.
I came to the Gold Dome to add value for hard-working Georgians and to be put to work to make our state healthier. I will never apologize for being good at my job. For me, it’s not about the title or which desk you’re at. It’s about doing the work.
Taking care of people is my life’s work. The well-being and health of our community will always be my focus. There are no issues too small or too large for me to care deeply about. As I have proven throughout my Senate record, my medical career and as mother, I will listen to and advocate tenaciously for the best interests of all those I represent.
So while the Republicans can draw me out, they can’t count me out, because I refuse to stop fighting for the residents of Johns Creek.
I ask for your vote and support of my candidacy for State House because together we can make Georgia a healthier, safer, and more inclusive state where everyone’s voices can be heard.
