“Let’s get on Mateo’s level,” says Dr. Pardis Amirhoushmand as she’s asked to pose for a photo with a 4-year-old patient inside her practice, the Autism Center in Ontario.

The young boy is visiting the space with his mom to be assessed for autism, a process that could be a long one, but Dr. Amirhoushmand and her team have created an environment to help ease the stress leading to a potential diagnosis.

It’s this bit of kindness given to young patients that caught the attention of Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), who bestowed the local board-certified clinical psychologist and The Autism Center its Inspire Award during the 2025 Mission Awards held May 9 at the health plan’s Rancho Cucamonga headquarters.

The Inspire Award honors a provider, entity or community partner that exemplifies IEHP’s mission to “heal and inspire the human spirit.” It is demonstrated by:

• Having compassion that extends to all the people they serve.
• Investing time and energy in their community through acts of service.
• Inspiring and motivating others to serve and to be their best.
• Being a servant-leader that others want to follow and emulate.

“I am very grateful for this award,” said Dr. Amirhoushmand. “The meaning of ‘inspire’ is to give people hope and to encourage others. To inspire our patients means stepping into their shoes to understand what they are going through. To inspire means we do more for them by going above and beyond.”

Dr. Pardis Amirhoushmand works with Mateo, 4, and his mom inside The Autism Center in Ontario on April 17.

Tucked into a quiet neighborhood off F Street, the Autism Center’s space mirrors a typical household setting. There’s a TV in the waiting area where fun animations play in the background. Seasonal décor lines the hallways leading to private patient rooms. It is in these spaces where Dr. Amirhoushmand observes patients, recording behavioral patterns through active play.

Care through Dr. Amirhoushmand’s Autism Center starts with an initial intake when parents complete a questionnaire rating their child’s everyday behavior, from physical to social and behavioral functioning. Observation appointments are then broken down into two parts as a center provider reviews the results of the intake and addresses any questions or concerns.

Dr. Amirhoushmand is there to help every step of the way.

“It is critical at any point during their child’s development that if a parent has a gut feeling that tells them something is not right, to please advocate for their child and continue to make your voice heard,” she said. “Help is here.”

Learn more about the Living the Mission Awards and IEHP’s Mission Conference at https://missionconference.iehp.org

To learn more about Dr. Amirhoushmand and the Autism Center, click the “play” button below: