Nche Zama, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon who has worked at a number of Pennsylvania hospitals, is running for governor, local ABC affiliate WETM reported May 20.
Dr. Zama has worked at Philadelphia-based Jefferson University Hospital and York Hospital, among several others.
"As an ardent supporter of educational, technological, business and healthcare excellence, I am running for governor to lead the charge and address these and other ills confronting this great Commonwealth," Dr. Zama said during his candidacy announcement. "Throughout my career, I have led high-performance teams to strive for excellence while embracing a patient-centered philosophy. We identify a problem, propose a solution, implement life-saving measures, monitor the results and achieve success. As governor, I will lead the best teams to transform Pennsylvania into a globally competitive force that serves the people of this Commonwealth."
Dr. Zama earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and has been practicing for more than 20 years.
He joins Republicans Lou Barletta and Joe Gale in the race. Mr. Barletta was the mayor of Hazleton (Pa.) for 10 years, and a congressman for 8 years. Mr. Gale is the Montgomery County commissioner.