UC Irvine Medical Center stands at the forefront of academic medicine in California, serving as the flagship hospital for UCI Health and one of the most advanced clinical and research hubs on the West Coast. Located in Orange, this 459 bed academic medical center delivers care to a broad, diverse patient population across Orange County and surrounding regions. As part of a major research university and the only academic health system in the county, UC Irvine offers a practice environment built around discovery, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continual advancement.
When you walk through the health system’s main campus, you immediately sense the momentum behind its growth. The newly opened $1.3 billion hospital and the state of the art Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center expansion are proof of the institution’s commitment to future focused healthcare. These investments directly strengthen the radiology enterprise, providing modern imaging spaces, next generation equipment, and an infrastructure designed for high acuity patient care.
UCI Health is the only health system in Orange County consistently recognized for providing tertiary and quaternary level care. As a Level I trauma center and home to nationally ranked service lines, it attracts patients from across Southern California who require subspecialized evaluation and treatment. Your work as cardiothoracic faculty becomes part of a larger mission to improve health outcomes through advanced imaging, clinical excellence, and academic leadership.
The population served by UC Irvine reflects the diversity and complexity of the region. Patients come from coastal communities, densely populated urban centers, and rural inland areas, giving you exposure to a broad range of pathology. Referral patterns from private practices, community hospitals, and the UCI Health network create strong case volume and steady clinical demand for advanced cardiothoracic imaging.
The Definitive Healthcare data underscores UCI Health’s strength as a high performing academic system:
UC Irvine has made substantial investments in radiology, including next generation CT and MRI technology, advanced imaging suites, and workflow optimized design. The institution also participates in NIH funded research and maintains strong partnerships across engineering, computer science, and biotechnology, creating opportunities for translational imaging research.
Your daily experience is enhanced by:
UCI Health is part of the broader University of California health network, which includes some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the country. This affiliation provides academic radiologists with shared resources, collaborative programs, research support, and a platform to disseminate scholarly work.
The medical center’s affiliation with the UCI School of Medicine further enhances your academic environment. Residents, fellows, and medical students contribute to the vibrant learning atmosphere, and your faculty role is deeply connected to teaching and mentorship.
While UC Irvine thrives as an academic powerhouse, it is equally committed to serving its community. Safety net care, community outreach, preventive medicine programs, and partnerships with local organizations reflect a mission grounded in equity and access.
As a faculty physician, you become part of this impact driven mission, helping elevate care for patients locally while contributing to research and education that influence cardiothoracic imaging nationally.
Together, these elements create a facility environment where your expertise is valued, supported, and amplified by the scale, sophistication, and vision of UCI Health.
