Brain Tumor Program: Referring Physicians

The UCI Health Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program combines innovative research, advanced diagnosis and treatment, and compassionate care to provide patients the best outcome possible. Our expertise and experience are the reasons that most physicians in Orange County and surrounding communities refer their patients to us.

Our goal is to work in partnership with referring physicians and to transition patients back to their physician when medically appropriate to receive ongoing care closer to home.

Expert care

As part of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are one of only 50 centers in the country to earn the National Cancer Institute’s “comprehensive” designation. Comprehensive cancer centers are charged with advancing cancer care through research, and UCI Health is no exception. We offer a unique portfolio of brain tumor trials, including brain tumor vaccines. Learn more about research and clinical trials ›

Other highlights of our program include:

• Expertise: Our brain tumor team is the most experienced in Orange County. Our team includes internationally recognized brain tumor experts, including Daniela Bota, MD. Meet our team ›
• Inpatient care coordination: UCI Medical Center is one of few hospitals in the nation, and the only one in California, with a dedicated neuro-oncology hospitalist. Our hospitalist sees patients daily to ensure care continuity and manage risks that are unique to the brain tumor patient population.
• Prompt second opinions: To help you and your patients receive information as quickly as possible, we promise a prompt response to all second opinion requests. We always respond by phone within 24 hours and see new patients in as little as 48 hours. Find out more about second opinions ›

Innovative treatments

When you refer your patients to our program, they have access to the latest brain tumor treatment options. UCI Health is often among the first programs in the region offering new treatments. We also use the best available technologies to ensure safer, faster and more effective brain tumor treatments.

We offer treatments and technologies that are not widely available, including:

• NovoTTF® device: UCI Health is one of the few centers in the nation offering the NovoTTF (Novocure) device. This wearable device uses electrodes to produce an electrical field that prevents tumors from dividing. It has been shown to be as effective as chemotherapy, without chemotherapy’s side effects. Find out more: Novel brain tumor treatment may extend lives of UCI Health patients ›
• Brain tumor vaccine: UCI Health has one of the largest brain tumor vaccine programs in the country. The vaccine enlists a patient’s own immune system to attack trace levels of tumor cells that remain after surgery and radiation. Read about one patient’s experience with NovoTTF ›
• TrueBeam™ radiotherapy and radiosurgery system: UCI Health is one of the only healthcare providers in Orange County to offer the TrueBeam STx linear accelerator. TrueBeam allows more precise radiation therapy than ever before. Find out more about the TrueBeam system ›
• BrainPath® neurosurgery system: We are one of the first Southern California hospitals to offer BrainPath. This technology allows us to safely maneuver through the delicate folds of the brain, displacing rather than cutting through tissue. BrainPath makes it possible to remove previously inoperable tumors while reducing potential damage to normal tissue. Read more about the BrainPath system ›
• ROSA™ robot neurosurgery device: UC Irvine Medical Center is the first hospital on the West Coast — and one of only a dozen nationwide — using the ROSA robot device. ROSA is the only device of its kind approved by the Food and Drug Administration and uses magnetic resonance imaging to accurately target deep-seated tumors.

Second opinions

Whether your patient is looking for consultation on a specific treatment or confirmation of a brain tumor diagnosis, we can help. We see new patients in as little as 48 hours. Our team approach to care allows many patients to be seen by a neuro-oncologist, neurosurgeon and radiation oncologist in one visit and get treatment recommendations on the spot. Learn more about second opinions ›

Contact us

To refer a patient to our program, call 714-456-8000 or fill out an online request form. You may also send us an email.