Richard Martinez Amini, MD

Dr. Amini, a Cuban-Iranian American born in Granada, Spain, is a nationally recognized leader in medical education, has advanced point-of-care ultrasound training, served as chair of the AAMC Western Group on Student Affairs and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. His career is distinguished by a dedication to student wellness, resilience and mentorship. Dr. Amini created the MedCats Thrive program and collaborates across the university to host retreats and programs that support medical student well-being and success. He has played central roles in LCME accreditation, curriculum innovation and medical education scholarship, including founding a Cureus Academic Channel for medical education research. His contributions have been honored with awards for teaching excellence, graduate medical education and student advising. Looking ahead, Dr. Amini is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence, AI agents, and efficiency tools to transform student support and curriculum delivery.