Dr. Tara Amini, DMSc, PA-C
Dr. Tara Amini, DMSc, PA-C, is a physician associate and justice-driven healthcare leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering comprehensive primary care, addiction medicine, gender-affirming care, and women’s health services. Based in Fresno, California, she serves at the frontlines of care for underserved and unsheltered populations, working primarily within federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and nonprofit systems. Her work reflects a deep commitment to clinical excellence, public health integration, and advancing equitable access to care for marginalized communities.
Dr. Amini’s path into medicine is rooted in lived experience. As a former refugee who spent over two years in a camp in Germany, she discovered early on the power of healthcare as a universal, non-discriminatory force while helping neighbors navigate medical appointments. That formative experience shaped her lifelong mission to provide compassionate, inclusive care. Over the course of her career, she has worked with organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Clinica Sierra Vista, where she pioneered and built a full-service mobile and street medicine program from the ground up—now delivering primary care, addiction treatment, psychiatric services, reproductive health, HIV prevention, and minor procedures directly within the community.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Amini is an advocate, educator, and leader within the physician associate profession. She serves in leadership roles with the California Academy of Physician Associates (CAPA) and PAs in Virtual Medicine and Telemedicine, contributing to policy, education, and the advancement of telehealth standards. A TNT Addiction Medicine Fellow with the University of California, Irvine, she continues to expand her expertise through advanced psychiatric training to better meet the complex needs of her patients. Guided by a philosophy grounded in humanity, dignity, and systems-level collaboration, Dr. Amini remains dedicated to transforming healthcare delivery and breaking down barriers for both patients and providers.
• Lynchburg Doctor of Medical Science Program - DMSc
• California Academy of Physician Associates (CAPA)
• PAs in Telemedicine/Virtual Medicine
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to resilience shaped by my refugee background, along with my multilingual abilities that allowed me to serve others early in life. Over a 20-year career in medicine, including work with mobile healthcare units in Fresno, I have remained committed to underserved communities, a path influenced by my journey from Iran to medical school at Loma Linda University. Strong mentorship—especially from Dr. Delisi and Dr. Delefi—along with my experience with organizations like Planned Parenthood and Clinica Sierra Vista, supportive leadership, and a commitment to lifelong learning have all played a vital role in my growth.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is simple: keep going. That mindset has guided me in tackling complex challenges in healthcare, including breaking down siloed systems by building stronger partnerships with public health and other providers. It has also driven my efforts to expand mobile and telemedicine services to reach individuals with addiction and psychiatric needs, and to scale collaborative models that connect street-based care with broader health systems.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in my field is expanding healthcare services for unsheltered populations. This requires overcoming siloed systems of care by building stronger partnerships with public health and community providers, as well as expanding mobile and telemedicine services to better reach individuals with addiction and psychiatric needs. It also presents an opportunity to scale collaborative models that connect street-based care with broader health systems, ultimately improving access, continuity of care, and health outcomes for some of the most vulnerable communities.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are honesty, integrity, and respect. I am deeply guided by a commitment to humanity, community service, and collaboration, which shape how I engage with others and the work I do. I also value lifelong learning and remain a strong advocate for women and underserved populations, striving to make a meaningful and equitable impact in every space I serve.
Locations
Clinica Sierra Vista
Fresno, CA 93727