Our philosophy at SLO Oncology and Hematology Health Center is that cancer care requires a personalized approach. Cancer is not just one disease; and every cancer has a unique cause, prognosis, genetic profile. Each patient requires a unique approach and a tailored treatment plan geared toward their individual situation and biologic makeup. In addition cancer treatment, in today’s world of information excess, can be a daunting and overwhelming journey. Our nurse navigators and community cancer support groups are all closely involved in our patient care models.
We work closely with our subspecialty cancer care providers (locally and at tertiary care centers) including radiation oncology, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists. We have the ability to present patients to a multidisciplinary tumor board team. Our facility houses a hospital associated pharmacy and full time on-site pharmacists. We have an affiliation with NCORP linking us to access to hundreds of nationwide clinical trials. We also involve nurse navigators and local community cancer support resources such as the Hearst Cancer Resource Center.
Dr. Tom Spillane believes in an integrative approach to the management of his patients. His definition of an integrative approach combines the best of the updated western medicine technology, complementary care, clinical trials and local psychosocial support services.
Dr. Spillane co-founded the Hearst Cancer Resource Center in 2008, as well as the Surfing for Hope Foundation in 2011, a program that among other services takes cancer survivors and children whose parents are battling cancer, on monthly surf sessions.
Board Certification: Oncology, Hematology
Medical School: University of California, Davis
Medical Oncology Residency: University of California, Irvine
Fellowship Training: University of California, Irvine
Areas of Interest: Brain tumors, Breast Cancer, GI Cancers, Head and Neck Cancer, Lung Cancer, Melanoma
Board Certification: Oncology & Hematology
Fellowship Training: Oncology & Hematology from University California Davis
Internal Medicine Residency: Cornell University
Medical School: Institute of Medicine I, Ragoon, Burma
Education: Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Tulane University
Areas of Interest: Benign Hematology, Breast Cancer, Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Lung Cancer, Solid Tumors
Dr. Gorgun Akpek (Dr. G) is a board certified hematologist and medical oncologist who treats his patients with all types of cancer and blood related.
Dr. Akpek received his MD degree from Hacettepe University, the top medical school in Turkey and did his internal medicine residency and hematology & medical oncology clinical fellowship trainings at Hacettepe University and Boston University Medical Centers. He became further specialized in Leukemia and Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplantation at Johns Hopkins University Department of Oncology in Baltimore, Maryland.
He joined the faculty first at Johns Hopkins University and then University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center as a clinical investigator and attending physician.
He continued his career as a founding Director of Leukemia and Stem Cell Transplantation/Cell Therapy programs at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Arizona and more recently he served as the Section Chief of Blood and Marrow Transplant Program (BMT) at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Dr. Akpek is a member of American Society of Hematology (ASH), Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Transplantation (ASBMT). He is nationally recognized for his research by more than 100 publications and clinical work in leukemia, lymphoma, MDS, multiple myeloma and stem cell transplantation.
Board Certification: Oncology, Hematology, Internal Medicine
Medical School: Hacettepe University School of Medicine
Internal Medicine Residency: Hacettepe University School of Medicine
Fellowship Training: Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University
Areas of Interest: All Cancers including: Autoimmune Cancer, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Rectal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Melanoma
Daniel Lewis, MD, is a board certified Medical Oncologist who has practiced in San Luis Obispo for forty years. He is a graduate of the Oregon Health Science’s Center and trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Dr. Lewis’ Medical Oncology specialty training was completed at the University of Colorado Medical Center. Dr. Lewis’ singular philosophy is that the patients come first. He very much enjoys the opportunity to practice at Dignity Health SLO Oncology and Hematology Health Center.
The better we understand cancer the more we recognize the complexities of this disease. Just like people, each cancer is different. Every cancer has a unique cause and unique genetic profile. We recognize that each patient will require a distinct approach & a tailored treatment plan geared toward their individual situation. We believe that the optimal outcome for cancer patients comes from the coordinated efforts of a team of expert practitioners using a multi-faceted treatment approach.
Board Certification: Hematology, Internal Medicine
Affiliations: Associate Professor, Stanford University, Chief of Staff, French Hospital
Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Residency: University of Nebraska
Fellowship Training: Stanford University
Areas of Interest: Anemia, Bleeding Disorders, Blood Transfusions, Clotting Disorders, Hematologic Malignancies, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma
Robin is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Oncology and Hematology. She worked for a number of years as an RN in oncology infusion centers before becoming an NP. She enjoys helping patients and guiding them through their cancer journeys.
You might find Robin outside swimming in the ocean or running around the trails in SLO with her friends. She also loves to travel with her husband and kids as well as watch them compete with their swim team and out on the soccer field.
Ms. Grace Thompson Bell is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in oncology and hematology. She graduated from Emory University’s nurse practitioner program and holds dual certifications in adult-gerontology acute care and adult-gerontology primary care.
Ms. Thompson Bell has experience in both academic and community oncology settings. She
previously practiced at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, treating
hematologic conditions in both hospital and outpatient clinic environments. She also provided
comprehensive oncologic care at Suburban Hematology Oncology Associates, a community
oncology practice in the Atlanta suburbs.
Ms. Thompson Bell is a Central Coast native, raised in Arroyo Grande. After spending 10 years in Atlanta, she is excited to be back and looks forward to giving back to the community she calls home.
There is Ample free parking in the parking lot right out front of the clinic.
Directions:
From South County: Take 101N to exit 200A - Los Osos Valley Road. Turn right onto Los Osos Valley Road, drive 0.4 miles and turn left onto South Higuera Street. Drive 0.4 miles and turn right onto Tank Farm Road. You will cross over Broad Street and make the first right into the driveway.
From North County: Take 101S to exit 202A - Marsh Street. Turn right onto Marsh Street and drive 0.6 miles and turn right onto Broad Street. Drive 2.4 miles and then turn left onto Tank Farm Road. Make the first right into the driveway.
Personalized Care
We believe that cancer care requires a personalized approach. We always bear in mind that we are treating people, not just diseases. Each situation is unique, requiring a custom-tailored, innovative and individualized treatment plan.
Team Approach
We recognize that care for our patients requires a collaborative team approach utilizing the multitude of resources available in our community and leading tertiary care cancer centers nationwide. We also realize that an effective team integrates the wealth of support available through family, friends and complementary care providers.
Health is much more than the absence of illness. It is a constant process of maintaining a sense of balance between your physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual self.
When dealing with a cancer diagnosis, you may be overwhelmed by the disease process and the myriad of treatment options. Here at The SLO Oncology & Hematology Health Center, we strive to help you select the therapies that are right for you; to help keep you grounded and help empower you to maintain your balance while enhancing your sense of well-being. Integrative Therapies are supportive measures that can most often help to alleviate stress, relieve pain and anxiety, empower you with a sense of control and well-being, better manage cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, and promote a fulfilling life of quality survivorship.
Integrative Therapies are practices that encompass a wide array of activities that most often involve engaging the mind-body and spirit. These are never intended as alternatives to your standard evidence-based medical care; these are therapies that can be used alongside your prescribed cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Integrative or "complementary medicine" approaches the body as a whole instead of concentrating on just the parts of the body holding the cancer.
Our mission in offering integrative medicine is to empower our patients in becoming active participants in their own cancer care through a variety of sound integrative health practices.
Benefits of integrative medicine for cancer patients and survivors:
All Cancers including:
Pacific Central Coast Health Centers contracts with most health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, and provides health care services that fit your health plan benefits. If you have questions about the health insurance plans we accept, contact the office where you would like to be seen and our staff would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
At SLO Oncology and Hematology Health Center we pride ourselves in offering an excellent team of physicians and medical staff to work together with patients on their Cancer journeys. Just like people, each cancer is different. When dealing with a cancer diagnosis, you may be overwhelmed by the disease process and the myriad of treatment options. Here at SLO Oncology our goal is to provide all-encompassing care for our patients through the integration of today’s foremost resources. We utilize the most advanced conventional medical technology and information, along with complementary therapies leading to a compassionate and personalized treatment experience that addresses not only the physical but also the psychosocial and spiritual facets of healing and survivorship.
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