May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, and this series of short profile videos is meant to commemorate some of the US Navy’s “firsts.” This video profiles Eleanor “Connie” Mariano, who is the first Filipino American to reach the rank of Rear Admiral, the first woman director of the White House Medical Unit, and the first woman service member to be appointed as White House Physician.

This video is narrated by Museum Educator, William Clarkson and was written, produced and directed by the staff at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. (US Navy Video by William Clarkson/Released)

Transcript

In 1901, President William McKinley issued an executive order permitting the Navy to enlist 500 Filipinos and Romanians to serve as part of the insular force in the region. Since then, Filipinos and Filipino Americans have served with distinction in the U. S. Armed forces and especially in the U. S. Navy. Today we highlight the career and achievements of Dr Eleanor Connie Mariano, who is the first Filipino American to reach the rank of rear admiral, the first woman director of the White House medical unit and the first woman service member to be appointed as White House physician. Dr Connie Mariano was born in June 1955 in the Philippines. Her father, Angel Mariano served 29 years in the Navy as a steward, which at the time was one of the few ratings open to minority sailors. Her mother, Dr. Lourdes Mariano was a dentist. In 1957. County Marianas family moved to Hawaii and then to southern California, where she attended school 1973. She graduated as Valedictorian from Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach, California Mariano graduated with honors from the University of California San Diego in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Dr Mariano then attended the uniformed Services University School of Medicine in Bethesda Maryland, Where she earned her medical degree and was commissioned as a Lt in May 1981. From 1982 to 1984, Dr Mariano served aboard the USS Prairie 80 15 in the Indian Ocean in West pacific as general medical officer and medical department. Division head. After receiving board certification in internal medicine, Dr, Mariano ran the specialty clinic and urgent care facility at the Naval Medical Clinic in port Hueneme California from 1986 to 1990. In 1990 Dr Mariano returned to the Naval Hospital in san Diego California to serve as division head of General Internal Medicine 1992, Dr Mariano was selected by incoming President Bill Clinton to serve as White House physician and director of the White House Medical Unit. She was promoted to captain in December 1994, President Clinton nominated Dr Mariano to the Rank of Rear Admiral in 1999, She was officially promoted on July 1 2000, becoming the 1st Filipino American Admiral in the US. Navy. Upon her promotion, Admiral Mariano remarked, I am pleased to stand before you today as proof that Filipino Americans in the Navy no longer must go through the kitchen, the back door or the garage. In June 2001, Dr Mariano retired from the Navy after 24 years of continuous service. In July 2001, Dr Mariano returned to private medical practice as a consultant for the executive health program at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, She founded her center for executive medicine in Scottsdale in 2005, where she continues to practice medicine and work as company president. In 2010, Doctor Marianas book, The White House Doctor My patients were presidents, was published by Thomas Done books. The book describes her time at the White House serving as White House physician. Dr Connie Mariano continues to care for patients as well as make frequent speaking and television appearances. She also hosts a radio show and podcast named House Calls, in which he discusses general health and wellbeing.