UCI Health launches clinically integrated network
United Medical Doctors and Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group founding partners with UCI Health Physician Network
Orange, Calif. — UCI Health, one of California’s leading academic health systems, is proud to announce the launch of its clinically integrated network (CIN), the UCI Health Physician Network, a transformative initiative designed to enhance patient care, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs through collaboration with leading community physician groups. The network debuts with two esteemed founding participants, United Medical Doctors and Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group.
“The creation of the UCI Health Physician Network complements the unique role of UCI Health as the region’s leading provider of comprehensive specialty and complex care only available from an academic health system,” said Tatyana Popkova, chief strategy officer and senior vice president at UCI Health. “By aligning private practice community-based expertise with academic medicine, we are creating a network of care that ensures better access to comprehensive, high-quality services, advancing the mission of UCI Health to Discover. Teach. Heal.”
The integration occurs at a pivotal growth period for the health system as it expands access to care, including to the experts at the UCI Health Chao Digestive Health Institute, the only one in the county connected to an academic health system.
“We are thrilled to launch the UCI Health Physician Network with United Medical Doctors and Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group as two of our first founding participants,” said Dr. John G. Lee, co-director of the digestive health institute. “As trusted community partners for gastrointestinal care, we believe the clinical pathways and shared best practices we build together will result in improved patient experience and outcomes.”
“Our mission with the UCI Health Physician Network is to bring together our commitment to leading-edge research, advanced treatments and rigorous evidence-based care with the expertise and community focus of independent physician practices through clinical integration,” said Dr. Skandan Shanmugan, co-director of the digestive health institute.
The creation of the UCI Health Physician Network reflects the growth of the UCI Health system to improve the health of the communities across the region. Last year, the UCI Health Community Network was established after the historic acquisition of four community hospitals in Fountain Valley, Lakewood, Los Alamitos and Placentia.
On the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care building and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building began serving patients in Spring 2024. The complex will be complete when the nation’s first all-electric hospital opens its doors in December. In 2026, UCI Health Rehabilitation Hospital will begin seeing patients for acute inpatient rehabilitation care for stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, amputation and other injuries and disorders.
United Medical Doctors, a multi-specialty group known for its innovative approach to healthcare, and Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group, a leading specialty practice in digestive health, bring decades of experience and a shared commitment to excellence. Together, these organizations and future CIN affiliates who participate in the UCI Health Physician Network, will collaborate with UCI Health to streamline care delivery, implement data-driven best practices, and enhance patient experiences across specialties.
“This affiliation with UCI Health allows us to combine our strengths as independent private practice physicians with the resources of an academic powerhouse,” said Dr. John J. Hong, MBA, CEO and founder of United Medical Doctors. “It’s an exciting step forward for our patients and our practice.”
"Joining the UCI Health Physician Network is a natural fit for our practice. This positions us to provide even more comprehensive care for patients with all types of gastrointestinal conditions,” said Dr. Dennis Riff, founding partner and physician at Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group. “We look forward to collaborating on innovative solutions and continue to provide high level community care now with the resources of a premier academic GI department."
For more information about the UCI Health Physician Network or to explore affiliation opportunities, please visit our website or email the UCI Health Partnerships and Affiliations team at ucihealthdealsteam@hs.uci.edu.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves nearly 5.7 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
About UCI Health Physician Network
The UCI Health Physician Network is a collaborative effort between UCI Health and select community providers, clinics, and hospitals. As a clinically integrated network (CIN), the UCI Health Physician Network is designed to deliver evidence-based patient care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. All affiliates in this network work to meet or improve targeted patient health outcomes for an expanding range of diseases and conditions, working to reduce the total cost of care.
About United Medical Doctors
United Medical Doctors is an integrated premier multi-specialty private practice with over 40 medical and surgical specialties dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered healthcare across 70 locations in Southern California. In addition to its comprehensive medical services, UMD enhances community well-being through its outpatient surgical care at United Surgery Centers (USC), innovative clinical research initiatives, and a commitment to developing future healthcare professionals through the United Nursing College.
About Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group
Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group (AGMG) is a leading independent, private gastroenterology practice in Southern California, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders and offering expert care with a patient-first approach. Their board-certified gastroenterologists are committed to advancing gastrointestinal health through excellence in clinical practice and access to prominent clinical trials. Additionally, patients have access to endoscopic procedures available through by AGMG Endoscopy, a fully accredited endoscopy center.