About Carmela Tan Parra, PA-C, MS

Carmela Tan Parra, MS, is a certified physician assistant (PA-C) specializing in interventional radiology. She works with a diverse patient population, providing minimally invasive, image-guided diagnosis and treatment of various conditions involving vascular diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal issues and other complex medical conditions. Carmela performs procedures including bone marrow biopsies, lumbar punctures, tunneled central venous line placements such as dialysis catheters and port placements, superficial biopsies such as thyroid biopsies, and paracenteses and thoracenteses procedures.

Her approach to care is patient-centered, focusing on personalized treatment plans that cater to each individual's unique needs. She prioritizes clear communication and patient education, ensuring that patients are well-informed about their conditions and treatment options. Carmela finds it extremely rewarding to make a significant impact on a patients' lives through innovative and minimally invasive techniques.

In addition to English, she is fluent in Spanish, which allows her to communicate effectively with a broader patient population and provide better care to those who are more comfortable speaking Spanish.

Carmela brings extensive experience in both clinical and procedural settings, having worked in this specialty since 2012. Prior to that, she specialized in general surgery as a first assistant for seven years. Her clinical skills are complemented by a solid foundation in procedure techniques and patient management, ensuring comprehensive care throughout the treatment process.

She completed a master's degree in physician assistant studies at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif. and earned her undergraduate degree in general biology at UC San Diego.

Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing volleyball, snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking and traveling. Her outside interests help her maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Interventional Radiology.

DegreeUC San Diego, San Diego, CAMaster’s DegreeWestern University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
GenderFemale
LanguagesSpanish
Date Joined Staff2024-06-10
Conditions and Treatments
  • Image-Guided Procedures
  • Image-Guided Biopsy
  • Lumbar Puncture
  • Dialysis Access

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Open Payments Program Notification

For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.

View Open Payments Data for Carmela Tan Parra