Anthony Velasco

Working closely with his colleagues in other disciplines such as behavioral health, community health, nutrition services, and social services, Anthony is able to provide services designed to address the full spectrum of wellness needs. He derives great joy and pride from building collaborative relationships with his patients, and from partnering with all members of DAP's interdisciplinary team to offer caring, comprehensive, and compassionate care.

In addition to being a Nurse Practitioner, Anthony is a credentialed HIV Specialist who has been working in HIV care since 2010. He provides compassionate care to people living with, and without, HIV. He also performs high-resolution anoscopy for detection, treatment, and management of anal dysplasia. An ally of the trans community, he provides comprehensive gender-affirming care and advocates creating better access to safe and gender-affirming spaces for all.

Prior to joining DAP, he served as a clinical nurse supervisor in the medical department at UC San Diego Health specializing in HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and AIDS-related malignancies.

His outside activities include working on research studies through universities such as UCLA and California State University San Bernardino, where he is able to assess and address the health disparities and disease burdens faced by sexual and gender minorities.

Anthony is also passionate about global health equity and has served on medical missions in Haiti and Honduras, and annually in the Philippines with Global Health Force, a non-profit organization providing access to free health care in underserved communities in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

He currently serves in the Nurse Practitioner Committee of the American Academy of HIV Medicine, president-elect of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Greater Palm Springs Chapter, and Co-Chair of DAP’s Transgender Health Program.

"By providing care that fosters empowerment and engagement, I am able to develop strong partnerships with my patients in a collaborative, inclusive, and stigma-free environment."