Mahrukh (Maha) Rafiq, PA-C
Physician Assistant and Primary Provider at Instant Urgent Care — compassionate, continuously-learning care across San Jose, Santa Clara & Sunnyvale.
- Board-Certified Physician Assistant
- Master's, Nova Southeastern University
- Bachelor's, University of Central Florida
- Trilingual: English, Hindi & Urdu
- Full-spectrum urgent & primary care
- Commitment to healthcare equity
A Physician Assistant driven by the philosophy that ‘you learn something new every day’
Meet Mahrukh Rafiq — known affectionately as Maha — a dedicated Physician Assistant and primary provider at Instant Urgent Care. Born and raised in the vibrant culture of South Florida, Maha's journey into healthcare was fueled by a drive to address healthcare disparities and make a meaningful, lasting impact on the communities she serves.
Maha's educational journey began at the University of Central Florida, where she earned her Bachelor's degree. Determined to expand her ability to provide quality, accessible care, she went on to complete her Master's degree at Nova Southeastern University — one of Florida's leading PA programs. After finishing her training, she set her sights on California and joined Instant Urgent Care full-time, motivated by a desire to contribute to Silicon Valley's healthcare landscape.
Her philosophy is captured in a single phrase: "You learn something new every day." That curiosity drives her to stay current with the latest developments in medicine, continuously sharpen her clinical judgment, and approach every patient with fresh eyes rather than assumptions. Patients feel the difference — she listens carefully, takes nothing for granted, and treats every case as unique.
Fluent in English, Hindi, and Urdu, Maha is a trusted provider for Silicon Valley's South Asian community, where being able to describe symptoms in your mother tongue often makes the entire visit easier. Outside the clinic, she prioritizes her own well-being with regular gym sessions, finds joy in her beloved cat, and has an adventurous palate — tacos are her favorite, followed closely by a good boba.
Trained, certified, and ready to care for your family
🎓
Nova Southeastern University
Bachelor's previously earned at University of Central Florida.
🏅
Board certification reflects ongoing testing, continuing education, and accountability to national standards.
👩⚕️
Urgent care, primary care, full-spectrum adult medicine, pediatric care, chronic disease management, preventive medicine, and healthcare equity advocacy.
🏥
Maha believes humility and curiosity are what separates good providers from great ones.
💻
Mission
A core driver of her career from the beginning.
Comprehensive care under one roof
From everyday illness to preventive checkups, Alan provides a full spectrum of services for patients at Instant Urgent Care.
🚑
Fast, same-day care for fever, flu, infections, sprains, cuts, allergic reactions, and other non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
🩺
Ongoing care for your whole family — annual physicals, preventive screenings, chronic disease management, and long-term wellness.
💻
Virtual visits from the comfort of home — ideal for common illnesses, prescription refills, lab review, and quick medical questions.
🛂
USCIS-required medical exams (Form I-693) completed by certified civil surgeons. Fast turnaround across San Jose, Santa Clara & Sunnyvale.
👶
Same-day care for infants, children, and teens — fever, earaches, strep throat, minor injuries, and back-to-school physicals.
🧪
PCR, rapid antigen, and antibody testing with quick results. Travel clearance, employer testing, and school/return-to-work documentation.
- Cold, flu, COVID-19 & respiratory infections
- Sore throat, strep throat & tonsillitis
- Sinus infections, ear infections & bronchitis
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Skin infections, rashes & allergic reactions
- Minor cuts, sprains, strains & burns
- Pink eye & styes
- Stomach flu, nausea & dehydration
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Diabetes & prediabetes management
- High cholesterol & heart-risk screening
- Asthma & seasonal allergies
- Thyroid disorders & hormonal imbalance
- Weight management & metabolic health
- Preventive screenings & annual physicals
- Geriatric care & medication management
Don't see your concern listed? We treat a wide range of conditions.
Your visit with Maha , step by step
We designed our clinic experience around what patients actually want: short paperwork,
real conversations, and clear next steps.
One short intake form — no clipboard marathons. You can also pre-register online to save time, and most insurance plans are accepted at the front desk.
Shabnam takes time to understand each patient's cultural context, language preferences, and family dynamics — particularly for patients new to the U.S. healthcare system.
Prescriptions sent directly to your pharmacy, lab orders on-site when possible, and a follow-up plan you actually understand. Telemedicine available for check-ins.
Questions patients ask about seeing Maha
A Physician Assistant is a licensed medical provider with a graduate degree who can diagnose illness, order tests, prescribe medication, and perform procedures. PAs practice under the collaboration of supervising physicians — so you get the same quality of care with shorter wait times.
Yes — Maha is fluent in English, Hindi, and Urdu. Many patients from Silicon Valley’s South Asian community specifically request her because they find it easier to explain symptoms in their mother tongue.
Yes. As a licensed Physician Assistant in California, Maha can prescribe all necessary medications, including most controlled substances, under California PA practice laws.
Yes. Maha sees patients of every age — infants through seniors. Common pediatric visits include fevers, ear infections, strep, and school/sports physicals.
Yes. Telemedicine visits with Maha are available for anyone in California — great for prescription refills, minor illnesses, and follow-up check-ins.
No. Walk-ins are welcome at all three Instant Urgent Care locations. Booking online generally means a shorter wait.
Maha rotates between our San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale clinics. Call ahead or check online to see where she’s scheduled on a given day.
See Maha at any of our 3 locations