Arvind Venkat

Arvind Venkat earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 1996, a graduate degree from Harvard University in 1996, and an M.D. from Yale University in 2000. Venkat's career experience includes working as an emergency physician.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dr. Arvind Venkat is an emergency physician who has practiced in Western Pennsylvania for the last 17 years. In 2022, Dr. Venkat was elected as the State Representative for the 30th Legislative District of Pennsylvania, becoming the first Indian-American to serve in the State House and the first physician in the General Assembly in 60 years. In his community, he previously served on the Board of the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority and serves as a consultant to the Western PA Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training collaborative. Dr. Venkat is a Past President of the PA College of Emergency Physicians. A graduate of Harvard University and the Yale University School of Medicine, Arvind resides in McCandless Township, PA with his wife and three children.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

As an ER doc, I have cared for my neighbors in their times of crisis and bring that experience and perspective in serving them as their State Representative.I am focused on protecting abortion rights, funding our first responders and public schools, enacting medical debt relief and making healthcare in general more affordable and accessible, passing gun safety legislation, and preserving voting rights and our democracy.

I went into emergency medicine to care for everyone no questions asked and to be a voice for those who often do not have one and can only get care from me in the ER. I understand from my lived professional experience that when we raise the working and middle class, we help everyone and make our communities stronger. I bring that viewpoint to Harrisburg as our State Representative.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. As the only physician in our General Assembly, I have focused on healthcare policy as well as how other areas of public policy - safe communities, good schools, raising the minimum wage - affect the health and well-being of our communities.

2. I strongly believe that abortion rights must be protected to ensure reproductive healthcare and personal liberty are preserved.

3. The ultimate foundation of our representative government is respect for voting rights and our election results regardless of their outcome. That can no longer be taken for granted and will be decided in our state government in Pennsylvania and beyond. I have prioritized expanding ballot access and ensuring elections are decided by all eligible voters.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my parents who immigrated here from India when I was a baby and built a successful life for themselves and our family while serving their community as physicians. They taught me the value of family, service, and community that informed my decision to become an ER doc and try to serve my community in a new way as a State Representative.

I believe Abraham Lincoln epitomizes what we hope to see in our political leaders - steadfast, values driven, able to change while holding true to their moral center.

I believe Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. exemplify how we can fight injustice in a peaceful, yet effective way.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Emancipation Proclamation epitomizes what I believe should be the core philosophy of any elected official in our country.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

1. Honesty

2. Integrity

3. Proven Judgement

4. Steadfastness and Ability to Address Crises Effectively

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe my career as an emergency physician and in the community show that I am honest, have integrity, proven judgement, and a tested ability to help my neighbors in their time of crisis. These are the qualities I bring in my service as our State Representative.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

1. Engaging with the community and ensuring that constituent services are executed effectively for them.

2. Representing the interests of my constituents in the deliberations and votes of the State House.

3. Thoughtful consideration of how our legislative actions improve the lives of my constituents and all Pennsylvanians.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope I am remembered as having represented my community faithfully, diligently, and successfully. My hope is that the policies for which I have advocated are codified in law.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the Miracle on Ice in 1980. I was 6 years old and can remember feeling excited to see the US win even while there were other struggles like the Iran Hostage Crisis that I also remember from that time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working as a checkout person at KMart in the summer after high school. I had it for three months. I remember wanting to use my first paycheck to take out my family to dinner and realizing at the end of dinner that I was well short, despite having worked nearly full time over those two weeks. That was the first time I realized the vast gap between what working class people make and what they can afford.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Robert Caro, Master of the Senate - Love both the historical detail and narrative beauty explaining why politics and political power is both ennobling and frightening at the same time.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Orrin Knox from Advise and Consent

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Lift Every Voice and Sing

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I continue to practice as an emergency physician. I struggle when despite my best effort, I lose patients.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

This relationship should be collaborative while recognizing that we have separate electoral mandates and roles within our system of government.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Flat to declining population. We need to be more welcoming to immigrant populations who can help bolster our economy.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe we need people from all backgrounds in state office. As the only physician in elected state-level office, I bring a unique perspective to healthcare policy and other areas of importance to my community and state.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. Legislative activity is by its nature collaborative. It requires good relationships.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I appreciate the work of Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney as sincere legislators for their viewpoints who also worked to elevate the common good.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I am focused on running for re-election to the State House.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I had a resident of my district tell me how challenging it was to care for her children and her aging parents during the pandemic while holding down a job where she had to work in person during the pandemic. To me, this exemplified how we ran our public services at the ragged edge and when crisis hit, we shut down as we were unsure of their ability to cope with all the consequences that followed. As an emergency physician, I see similar gaps and want as a legislator to ensure we never have to go through such tragedies again by ensuring our public services have the resources they need to serve all of us.

Tell us your favorite joke.

You always can tell a Harvard man, but you can’t tell him much.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

I believe that there are circumstances when emergency powers can be granted with oversight. Emergency powers should not be granted without oversight.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

My first bill was to enact medical debt relief in our state and enhance protections for patients from accruing new medical debt. It has passed the State House and is now part of the Governor’s budget proposal.

What committees interest you?

I serve on all of the healthcare related committees and am interested in those and other committees that address the economic development and working conditions of our state.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Both financial transparency and government accountability is clear. I have published my expenses as a legislator monthly and refuse all gifts. I only accept reimbursement for expenses and no per diems. Finally, I have knocked on over 20,000 doors in my district over the last two years and will continue to do so to stay connected with my neighbors and constituents.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dr. Arvind Venkat is an emergency physician who has practiced in Western Pennsylvania for the last 15 years. Dr. Venkat is core faculty in the emergency medicine residency program and System Chair of Clinical Ethics at Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, and Professor of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. In his community, he serves on the Board of the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority and as a consultant to the Western PA Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training collaborative. Dr. Venkat is a Past President of the PA College of Emergency Physicians. A graduate of Harvard University and the Yale University School of Medicine, Arvind resides in McCandless Township, PA with his wife and three children.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

As an ER doc, I have cared for my neighbors in their times of crisis and will bring that experience and perspective in serving them in a new way as their State Representative.We need legislators who understand how healthcare is actually delivered. I would be the only physician in the General Assembly and can bring that perspective on behalf of our community.I went into emergency medicine to care for everyone no questions asked and to be a voice for those who often do not have one and can only get care from me in the ER. I understand from my lived professional experience that when we raise the working and middle class, we help everyone and make our communities stronger. I will bring that viewpoint to Harrisburg as our State Representative.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. We must make healthcare more affordable and accessible. I will fight to reduce copayments, deductibles, and premiums, work to increase Medicaid resources to allow our elderly to age at home, and develop programs to incentivize appropriate staffing in ERs, hospitals, and other acute care clinical settings on which we all depend.

2. My community has seen significant population growth, but our infrastructure has not kept up. I will fight to improve our roads, bridges, sewer systems, parks, and other infrastructure that are critical to the residents of the 30th district.

3. We have seen during the pandemic how poorly resourced our public services - schools, police, EMS, and fire - were. I will work to ensure these vital services have the resources they need to be there for all of us in our time of need.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my parents who immigrated here from India when I was a baby and built a successful life for themselves and our family while serving their community as physicians. They taught me the value of family, service, and community that informed my decision to become an ER doc and try to serve my community in a new way as a State Representative.

I believe Abraham Lincoln epitomizes what we hope to see in our political leaders - steadfast, values driven, able to change while holding true to their moral center.

I believe Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. exemplify how we can fight injustice in a peaceful, yet effective way.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

1. Honesty

2. Integrity

3. Proven Judgement

4. Steadfastness and Ability to Address Crises Effectively

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I believe my career as an emergency physician and in the community show that I am honest, have integrity, proven judgement, and a tested ability to help my neighbors in their time of crisis. These are the qualities I will bring in my serving as our State Representative.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the Miracle on Ice in 1980. I was 6 years old and can remember feeling excited to see the US win even while there were other struggles like the Iran Hostage Crisis that I also remember from that time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working as a checkout person at KMart in the summer after high school. I had it for three months. I remember wanting to use my first paycheck to take out my family to dinner and realizing at the end of dinner that I was well short, despite having worked nearly full time over those two weeks. That was the first time I realized the vast gap between what working class people make and what they can afford.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Robert Caro, Master of the Senate - Love both the historical detail and narrative beauty explaining why politics and political power is both ennobling and frightening at the same time.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

They belong to co-equal and separate branches of government who must represent their individual constituencies while finding common ground for both local communities and the state as a whole. If both are focused on recognizing these realities, there is grounds for optimism in working together with the natural tensions that come in their political relationship.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

1. Ensuring we make healthcare affordable and accessible for all Pennsylvanians.

2. Rebuilding our infrastructure in an environmentally responsible way.

3. Making sure our public services on which we all depend - schools, police, EMS, and fire - have the resources to be able to serve our communities well.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. The only way to get things done is by recognizing that we must understand the perspectives of other members of good faith and common purpose. Building relationships with other legislators is critical to doing so, regardless of party.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I believe we need a non-partisan redistricting process that does not involve those whose offices are being redistricted. Voters should choose their political leaders. Political leaders should not choose their voters.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I had a resident of my district tell me how challenging it was to care for her children and her aging parents during the pandemic while holding down a job where she had to work in person during the pandemic. To me, this exemplified how we ran our public services at the ragged edge and when crisis hit, we shut down as we were unsure of their ability to cope with all the consequences that followed. As an emergency physician, I see similar gaps and want as a legislator to ensure we never have to go through such tragedies again by ensuring our public services have the resources they need to serve all of us.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I believe that every policymaker needs to have a moral center. For me, that is fighting to ensure government is on the side of middle and working class families and that their interests are elevated. From that moral center, one can find compromise on policy making details and that is both necessary and desirable to get things done.