UCI Health Physician Network expands with two new affiliates: Los Alamitos Cardiovascular and OC GastroCare
Additions build on strategy of improving access, coordination, outcomes throughout region
Orange, Calif. — UCI Health continues the growth of the UCI Health Physician Network with the addition of Los Alamitos Cardiovascular and OC GastroCare.
The UCI Health Physician Network integrates the academic expertise of UCI Health with trusted community-based practices. By welcoming Los Alamitos Cardiovascular, a leading cardiology group, and OC GastroCare, a premier digestive health provider, the network expands patient access to advanced cardiovascular and gastrointestinal care services closer to home.
“Expanding our physician network with high-quality, community-based affiliates is central to our strategy of improving access, coordination and outcomes across the region,” said Tatyana Popkova, chief strategy officer and senior vice president, ambulatory, at UCI Health.
“Los Alamitos Cardiovascular and OC GastroCare share our commitment to excellence and patient-centered care. We are excited to collaborate to deliver more seamless, integrated care experiences.”
Strengthening access to cardiovascular and digestive health services
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, while digestive disorders affect millions of Americans each year, driving significant demand for specialized care. The addition of these two practices enhances the ability of UCI Health to meet growing patient needs with timely access to expert diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management.
Patients within the UCI Health Physician Network benefit from coordinated care pathways, shared clinical protocols and data-driven quality improvement initiatives. This integrated approach helps ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, whether in community settings or in the tertiary and quaternary care facilities at UCI Health.
“Bringing OC GastroCare into the UCI Health Physician Network allows us to elevate digestive health services through closer collaboration with academic specialists and access to leading-edge research and therapies,” said Dr. Skandan Shanmugan, co–director of the Chao Digestive Health Institute and division chief of Colon & Rectal Surgery at UCI Health. “Together, we can provide more comprehensive and coordinated care for patients with complex gastrointestinal conditions.”
Dr. John Lee, co-director of the Chao Digestive Health Institute and chair of Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Oncology at UCI Health, added: “This partnership enhances our ability to deliver seamless, patient-centered care across the continuum — from routine screening and prevention to advanced therapeutic interventions — ensuring our patients achieve the best possible outcomes.”
Advancing community-based cardiovascular care
Los Alamitos Cardiovascular brings deep expertise in diagnosing and treating heart and vascular conditions, including preventive cardiology, interventional procedures and long-term disease management.
“The addition of Los Alamitos Cardiovascular strengthens our ability to extend world-class cardiology care into the communities we serve,” said Dr. Pranav Patel, division chief of Cardiology Services at UCI Health. “Through alignment on evidence-based practices and shared quality goals, we can improve patient outcomes and expand access to advanced cardiac services across the region.”
Dr. Ramandeep Brar, partner at Los Alamitos Cardiovascular, affirmed this alignment noting, "Los Alamitos Cardiovascular's primary goal has been to provide the highest quality and most comprehensive care to our patients. UCI Health has the same focus and we look forward to our partnership expanding excellence in healthcare together."
About OC GastroCare
OC GastroCare is a premier digestive health practice with offices in Brea and Anaheim, along with inpatient care at UCI Health - Placentia Linda hospital. Dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal conditions, the practice offers a full spectrum of services, including preventive screenings, advanced endoscopic procedures, and management of complex digestive disorders. A state-of-the-art endoscopy center is also coming soon to Brea, expanding access to routine GI procedures such as colonoscopies and endoscopies close to home. With a philosophy of treating every patient like family, OC GastroCare is known for compassionate, high-quality care.
About Los Alamitos Cardiovascular
Los Alamitos Cardiovascular is a leading cardiology practice, serving patients across Orange County and Long Beach. The practice has been serving the community for 50 years. The founding members of the practice were also founding members of the UCI Health - Los Alamitos hospital. The group has been instrumental in bringing new technology to the cardiovascular service line at UCI Health - Los Alamitos hospital. The group offers comprehensive cardiovascular services, including prevention, diagnosis in advanced treatment of heart and vascular conditions with a strong focus on personalized, patient centered care.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.