The American Success Award recognizes foreign-born individuals who live or work in Howard County, Maryland and have made significant contributions to promoting and highlighting not only immigrants’ achievements but fostering a greater awareness of diversity in Howard County. 
 
Dou Alvin Zhang graduated from Xiangya’s English Medical Class in 1992. After receiving his Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowship training in Cardiovascular Science at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, he pursued residency in Medicine at Baylor from 2003 to 2006. After a Cardiology Fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2000, he joined the Cardiology Department at the Kaiser Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in Towson, Maryland. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and in Cardiology.
 
Over the years, Dr. Zhang has made tremendous effort in supporting Asian community. He served as the Medical Director from 2008 to 2011 at the Asian American Healthcare Center (AAHC) in Maryland. In 2011, he was elected as Chairman of Board of Directors of AAHC.
 
As the Medical Director, he has played an important role in establishing and executing AAHC strategic plan, which included opening of its volunteer clinic and establishment of its community education programs. In 2009 AAHC secured a $24,000 grant from the State Health Department for anti-smoking in Asian American Communities in State of Maryland; and in 2010, AAHC organized a Benefit Concert by raising nearly $20,000 donations for its operation.
 
Since becoming the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Zhang helped to secure a $10,000 grant from American Cancer Society for promoting Colon, Cervical and Breast cancer screening in Asian Americans in Howard County, and a $200,000 NIH grant, through partnership with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, for promoting HBV screening, vaccination and treatment in Asian American Communities in the State of Maryland.
 
Dr. Zhang’s contributions to AAHC have been well recognized in the community and by the State. He was awarded the Governor’s Citation by Governor Martin O'Malley in 2011 for his commitment and dedication to improve the health and wellness of the Asian Americans in the State of Maryland.
 
In addition, Dr. Zhang co-founded and serves as the president of the Chinese American Doctors Association (CADA) based in Baltimore. As a representative of CADA, he also serves at the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee. In 2009 and 2012, he led a medical delegation to Xiamen. The delegation included members from CADA and Johns Hopkins as well as Baltimore City Mayor’s representatives. His effort eventually resulted in the establishment of a joint medical symposium program as well as a long-term medical exchange and education program agreement between the City of Xiamen, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and CADA.
 
Dr. Zhang and his family have been living in Howard County since 2006.  He and his wife, Dr. Jianxia Qiu (邱建霞）, also a Xiangya graduate, have three children, Sarah, Hannah and Michael.  Beside his busy schedule with patient care and community service, he enjoys his time with his family, playing volleyball, basketball and tennis with his friends.
 
The Eleventh Annual American Success Awards Gala will be held on June 4, 2013 at 6:00 pm at Turf Valley Resort Hotel in Ellicott City, Maryland.
 
XYOAA congratulates Dr. Dou Alvin Zhang on his remarkable achievements!