Recognition of Filipino Americans’ Contributions and Success in their Fields
Congratulations To Four Filipino Americans
Celebrating extraordinary professional success
The US-Philippines Society recognizes White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, Architect Hedy Thomas, Surgeon Juan Montero and Olympian Lee Kiefer for their decades of hard work, dedication, and commitment to service, overcoming challenges, and earning praise from peers. Our best wishes for continuing success.
Cristeta “Cris” Comerford
Cristeta Pasia Comerford, White House Executive Chef retired in July 2024 after nearly three decades of service in the White House. Executive Chef Comerford is the first woman to hold the position of White House executive chef. She was born in the Philippines, and came to the United States in 1985.
“To our amazing White House
Chef Cristeta Comerford, who served five presidents & cooked at 54 state dinners…you are a national treasure, a culinary diplomat who has shown the world how an immigrant can celebrate American food & share it with the world’s leaders,” – Chef Jose Andres.
Hedy L. Thomas
Hedy L. Thomas was selected as a 2024 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Washington Business Journal as one of Washington DC’s most influential business women, making a difference and leaving a mark on Washington DC area communities.
Thomas is a highly accomplished structural engineer, who has prcticed for more than three decades and is the proud owner of a successful woman-owned small business, Leuterio Thomas, LLC (LT), a full-service A/E firm offering architectural, structural engineering and mechanical engineering services. She is a member of the US-Philippines Society Board of Directors.
Juan Montero II,MD,FACS
Juan M. Montero II, MD, FACS was accepted as an Associate Member of the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators (October 2024-2029) by the American College of Surgeons. Doc Montero introduced two innovative procedures: Nissen Fundoplication with Parietal Cell Vagotomy for the treatment of intractable Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease[GERD] and Blunt Esophagectomy with Stomach Pull-Up for cancer of the upper esophagus. Upon receiving this recognition, he pledged to share his surgical know-how through the Montero Medical Missions’ humanitarian efforts. He was born and raised in the Philippines and has practiced for 35 years in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia.
Lee Kiefer of the United States at the Saint-Maur Women’s Foil World Cup. Nov 2014
© Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY 3.0
Hats off to two-time Gold Olympic Fencing Medalist Lee Kiefer. She is the first American woman to earn the No.1 foil ranking in Tokyo 2021 Olympics and continued to dominate in her field earning her second gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is daughter of Teresa, Filipino-American psychiatrist who was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. as a child.
Lee’s 95-year old grandmother, Lola Teresita, was a physician in the Philippines when she migrated to the U.S. fifty years ago with her husband and two kids. Lola Teresita described her granddaughter’s hard work balancing medical school and training for the Olympics.
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