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03 Apr

A.M. Aminian

published on April 3, 2015 - 9:02 PM
Written by

A.M. Aminian,

Title and roles:
Medical director of the Allergy Institute in Fresno and Visalia, president of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society, and a member of the teaching faculty at the UCSF Medical Education Program in Fresno.

Education:
MD with a specialty in allergy, asthma and immunology, University of Oklahoma Wayne State University and the Max Samter Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology affiliated with Rush Medical School in Chicago, Illinois

Family:
I met my lovely wife Sandra 26 years ago and we have a dog named Koki who runs the house and makes us a happy family of three.


 

Why did you choose to pursue a career in medicine, Aminian?
I was surrounded by medical professionals my entire life. My father is a retired dentist and several other family members practice medicine as well. I knew from a young age that I wanted to care for people and to make a difference. I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by inspiring people every single day encouraging me to pursue my dreams in the medical field.  

What are the most notable changes you have noticed since the passage of the Affordable Care Act and how has the ACA impacted specialists like allergists, Aminian?
The ACA is providing everyone with the opportunity to access health care, regardless of income. That means for the first time, many individuals and families in our community will have access to preventative and specialty care, like treating asthma and allergies. While this coverage provides a larger pool of potential patients to receive specialty care, we need to fully inform the public receiving coverage under this Act how to properly access it.

As president of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society what are your primary goals for the organization, Aminian?
The purpose of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society is to unite physicians to ensure they maintain the independence needed to make the best possible medical decisions for patient care, mentoring future physicians, educating physicians and the public on the latest medical advances, and to advocate for patient’s access to care.

How has electronic record keeping changed the way you work and share information with other doctors, Aminian?
When I started my practice some 30 years ago, requesting medical records and treatments for a patient could take several days depending where they came. Oftentimes, a patient would bring copies with them. Electronic systems expedite the exchange of accurate medical history, current treatments, prescriptions and the medical concerns of a patient between doctors and other medical providers in a way that has never been seen before.   

What advice would you give a young person today considering a career in the medical field, Aminian?
It does not matter what background you come from. If you have a passion for medicine and helping others, pursue your dream in this field. I often remember my journey through medical school trying to juggle day-to-day life and my professors saying, “you will find the success and happiness you are looking for by remembering you will have the opportunity to save lives, find a cure to a life threatening disease, bring comfort to a family in need, and celebrate the arrival of a son or daughter with some very excited parents.” Now, what other profession allows you to do all that?

What was the best advice you ever received and who did it come from?
My father told me long ago never to rush to judgment about a decision someone has made and to imagine myself in their shoes to better understand their reasoning for making that decision. He was basically saying, “Treat others how you want to be treated.”

Who or what has been the biggest influence in your career, Aminian?
That’s easy for me; it was the one who guided my early training at the Max Samter Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr. Max Samter, a world-renowned allergist and immunologist. I remember Dr. Samter telling me that before you begin treating a patient, it is essential to know who they are. Understanding their belief system is essential to being a successful doctor. This advice was very similar to what my father had said about the importance of listening to your patients very carefully.

What are your roots in the Central Valley, Aminian?
The Central Valley has been my home for 30 years. I feel as though I am practically a native. My wife was born and raised in the Valley and we both consider it our home.

What was your very first job and what did you learn from it, Aminian?
One of my first jobs was in sales and what I learned was solid listening skills. Of course, you have to be able to sell a product and understand the benefits of it. To understand what the customer is looking for, you need to listen. That early training has really helped me as a doctor. Patients need to feel that they can talk freely to their doctor and that they listen without rushing to make a medical decision before really hearing their concerns.   

What do you like to do in your spare time, Aminian?
 I love nothing more than traveling to the mountains for the weekend with my wife Sandra and our dog Koki to enjoy the mountain air, taking long walks, reading some of my favorite books, and even catching a great movie I’ve missed.


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