Val Arkoosh, a physician and community leader, garnered broad support throughout the medical community, the Democratic candidate for PA-13 announced today.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee (ASAPAC), American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Political Action Committee (ACOG PAC), American College of Cardiology Political Action Committee (ACC PAC), the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Political Action Committee (STS-PAC) and the American Psychology Association Practice Organization Political Action Committee (APAPO-PAC) have all thrown their support behind Arkoosh, marking the first major group of PAC support for a PA-13 candidate.

Jeff Mueller, the chair of the ASAPAC, cited the nationwide issue of health care as a reason for his organization’s support of Arkoosh.

“As leaders in patient safety, our organization and our members are excited about supporting Dr. Val Arkoosh in her run for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district,” Mueller said.

In the past weeks, party chairs and other groups have been supporting candidates in the race, but Arkoosh’s support from the medical associations is the largest set of PACs to endorse in the race thus far. These organizations do not formally endorse candidates, but are able to support them through their PACs.

“I am honored to receive the support from my colleagues in the medical community. We see the negative impacts of a dysfunctional Congress full of career politicians in our community hospitals and clinics,” Arkoosh said. “As physicians, we are trained to overcome our differences to treat the patient or the problem in front of us – we don’t get hung up on ideology. This is the approach I will bring to Congress.”

Challenging Arkoosh for the nomination are state Rep. Brendan Boyle (Philadelphia), state Sen. Daylin Leach (Montgomery) and Former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies.

A Margolies campaign poll released in August had Arkoosh support at 2 percent among voters in the district. Margolies was in the lead with 43 percent.