Our Philosophy at SLO Oncology and Hematology Health Center is that we believe that cancer care requires a personalized approach. Cancer is not just one disease; but rather every cancer has a unique cause and unique genetic profile. We recognize that each patient will therefore require a distinct approach and a tailored treatment plan geared toward their individual situation. We also recognize that cancer treatment in today’s world of information excess can be a daunting and often overwhelming journey.
Dr. 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. An integrative approach to the care of a patient recognizes that each person is in a unique situation with a unique cancer requiring an individualized treatment plan. This personalized approach to cancer recognizes that an ideal treatment program evaluates the whole patient from a broad prospective while at the same time narrowing in on the intricacies of the cancer’s unique mutational makeup. Aside from chemotherapy, we also use individualized targeted therapy as well as immunotherapy. We take advantage of the multiple non-Western medicine healthcare providers in our area that can complement are cancer management. In addition, when appropriate, we take advantage of the opportunity to enroll patients in clinical trials so that they have access to exciting new therapies and approaches on the horizon. We also work closely with our subspecialty cancer care providers (locally and at tertiary care centers) including radiation oncology, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists allowing us to present patients to a multidisciplinary tumor board team. We also involve local psychosocial support services that can provide counseling and management related to the multifactorial stress of a cancer diagnosis.
Board Certification: Oncology, Hematology
Medical School: University of California, Davis
Internal Medicine 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
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.
Tim has been board certified as a Physician’s Assistant since 1995. He has spent most of the last 14 years working with SLO Oncology and Hematology.
Tim grew up on the Central California Coast and has worked locally as an EMT/Paramedic and was a member of a Rescue Team that performed High Angle and Swift Water rescues.
Tim also has a strong interest in sports as an avid Giants and 49’ers fan and as an athletic trainer for a number of Central California and Central Coast teams.
Tim enjoys traveling with his wife and friends, and enjoys his dogs, sports and history.
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.
Video: Healthbreak - HPV Vaccination for Cancer Prevention in Men
Dr. Tom Spillane
Video: Healthbreak – New Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screenings
Dr. Lin Soe
