Richard Tea is a distinguished healthcare executive, military veteran, and humanitarian leader with more than 20 years of experience specializing in cardiothoracic surgery and over 30 years of honorable military service, including multiple overseas deployments. He currently serves as the Clinical Director and Advanced Clinical Senior Physician Associate in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he provides clinical leadership and delivers advanced surgical care for patients with complex cardiac conditions.

Throughout his career, Richard has held numerous leadership positions in both military and civilian organizations, earning a reputation for strategic leadership, operational excellence, and team development. A strong advocate for lifelong learning, he earned Master of Business Administration (MBA) from George Washington University, complementing his extensive clinical and leadership experience with advanced business and organizational management expertise.

Richard was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A survivor of the atrocities committed during the Cambodian genocide by the Khmer Rouge, Richard’s life has been shaped by resilience, perseverance, and a deep commitment to serving others.

Richard’s commitment to service began early through volunteer work with the United Nations at refugee camps in Thailand and has continued throughout his life through community outreach, including volunteering at soup kitchens in New York City. Most recently, he led a team of 24 highly specialized healthcare professionals on the inaugural Cambodia Pediatric Heart Surgery Project, under the auspice of CHPAA whom he volunteered in 2024, where they successfully performed life-saving congenital heart surgeries for indigent children while partnering with local healthcare providers to strengthen pediatric cardiac surgical capabilities and promote sustainable healthcare development.

Beyond his professional and humanitarian endeavors, Richard is an active real estate investor, owner, and property manager. He enjoys traveling, experiencing diverse cultures and cuisines, listening to music, playing tennis, and following basketball, football, and soccer.

Richard brings to the Board a unique combination of clinical expertise, executive leadership, military service, business acumen, entrepreneurial experience, and a lifelong commitment to serving others. His passion for improving healthcare access, developing future leaders, and strengthening communities aligns closely with the mission and values of the organization.