Whatever you're
facing,

we'll be here

UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is a nationally recognized program that has one focus: ending cancer.

As the only academic health system in Orange County, we provide a higher level of specialized cancer care, combined with a personalized, compassionate approach. Every day, we push the boundaries on what cancer treatment can be for the future, through dedicated cancer research and clinical trials.

UCI Health is here for you and your family to address all your needs with compassion and expertise.

About us

National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center
No cancer is too common or rare to us, we offer highly specialized cancer physicians who treat all cancers at all stages
Offering same-day and next-day appointments
The only Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program in the county, led by internationally renowned Stefan O. Ciurea, MD
Robust, whole-person Integrative Cancer Program, led by internationally renowned Gary E. Deng, MD
One of the largest clinical trial offerings in the region, including early-phase trials

Our physicians

UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is home to many nationally and internationally recognized physicians who are leaders in both research and innovative care.

Hover over each tile to read more about our world-class cancer physicians.

Meet Daniela Bota, MD, PhD

Daniela Bota, MD, PhD is an internationally recognized neuro-oncologist known for her research and contributions to advancing therapies for brain malignancies. In addition to patient care, she is the vice dean for Clinical Research at the UCI School of Medicine and the clinical director for the Sue & Bill Gross Research Center.

Meet Stefan O. Ciurea, MD

Dr. Stefan O. Ciurea is a board-certified hematologist at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in Orange County. Ciurea has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and more than 10 book chapters. He also has served as principal investigator on multiple clinical trials.

Meet David I. Lee, MD

Dr. David I. Lee is a board-certified, fellowship-trained urologist who specializes in prostate cancer surgery. He is the director of the UCI Health Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Program and a nationally regarded leader in robot-assisted prostatectomies, having performed more than 6,300 of the procedures in two decades of practice.

Meet Farshid Dayyani, MD, PhD

Dr. Farshid Dayyani is a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary malignancies. He has completed extensive research focused on gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary malignancies, striving to bring leading-edge treatments to patients with gastrointestinal cancers through innovative clinical trials and translational research.

Meet Maheswari Senthil, MD

Dr. Maheswari Senthil, a board-certified surgical oncologist, specializes in the management of advanced abdominal cancers, peritoneal malignancies, sarcomas, neuroendocrine tumors and melanomas. She offers targeted peritoneal carcinomatosis systemic treatments combined with cytoreduction surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to patients with stage IV abdominal cancers.

Meet Jeremy Harris, MD

Dr. Jeremy P. Harris, MPhil, a board-certified radiation oncologist, specializes in lung cancer, sarcoma, brain and spine tumors, and lymphoma. He completed his residency at Stanford University. Harris is passionate about enhancing clinical care through cross-disciplinary research and clinical trials. He also co-authored several research papers about various factors that influence radiation treatment and survival.

Our stories

A lifesaving transplant for lymphoma

When treatments elsewhere failed to knock out his lymphoma, Sean Ramos turned to UCI Health cancer specialists, who devised an intensive plan of chemotherapy, radiation and a transplant with bone marrow stem cells donated by one of his sisters.

Beating cancer at the genetic root

A woman diagnosed with terminal lung cancer finds hope and recovery from her UCI Health oncology team.

Michelle Helm says she is thriving because thanks to the lung cancer specialists at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Gastric cancer survivor credits novel clinical trial therapy

In the fall of 2023, Mauricio Alvarez was given no more than a year to live after being diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. Two years later, the 61-year-old mechanical engineer has beaten the odds thanks to a unique clinical trial.

The next level of prostate cancer care

As the new director of UCI Health prostate cancer services, Dr. David I. Lee aims to build on the excellence of a program already nationally regarded for leading-edge care and innovative research.

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