Choose UCD | UC Davis Health

Choose UC Davis Health for Your Lung Cancer Treatment

Cancer Center

Choosing the right health care provider is the first and perhaps most important decision in your lung cancer treatment pathway. We know that many providers offer thoracic cancer treatment programs.

Here are eight reasons that make UC Davis Health the premier choice.

  1. Nationally Recognized Excellence: U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Davis Health as the Sacramento area’s top cancer hospital, conducting the leading pulmonology and lung surgery program in the region. Such distinctions underscore our unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care.
  2. Unmatched Surgical Distinction: Our lung cancer program is the only one in the region to have consistently received the U.S. News & World Report “Highest Performing Hospital for Lung Cancer Surgery” honor every year it has been awarded. This recognition speaks volumes about our surgical expertise and the outcomes we deliver.
  3. Transparency in Results: UC Davis Health stands out as the only program in the region to publicly report our lung cancer surgery results. These results, as measured by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, reflect our dedication to transparency and accountability.
  4. Specialized Lung-LEAD Clinic: Our Lung-LEAD Clinic is singularly focused on the early detection of lung nodules and potential lung cancer. Early detection is pivotal for optimal outcomes, and our specialized clinic ensures that you’re in expert hands from the outset.
  5. Innovative Telehealth Services: We’ve integrated advanced telehealth services to prioritize your convenience and well-being, allowing you to access our renowned consultations from the comfort of your home.
  6. Cutting-Edge Research and Treatment: As a leading institution, UC Davis Health is at the vanguard of medical research to care for our patients with “bench to bedside” treatments. Our patients benefit from the latest therapies, technologies and clinical trials.
  7. Holistic, Multidisciplinary Care: Our team consists of experts from numerous specialties, ensuring a comprehensive approach that focuses on you as a whole person. This collaboration guarantees that we meticulously care for every facet of your health.
  8. Commitment to Equity: We take immense pride in offering all our patients an equal opportunity for the best chance at a cure and maximizing quality of life. Every patient, regardless of background or circumstance, receives our utmost dedication and care. Patients are at the center of everything we do.
NCI badge

National Recognition

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Thoracic Oncology Program has earned recognition from numerous medical professional organizations, research organizations and nationally prominent publications. Such recognition places UC Davis Health among the top tier of medical facilities in patient care and outcomes.

Awards and Other Forms Of Recognition

Here are some of the numerous awards and other forms of recognition that distinguish UC Davis Health in lung cancer treatment.

  • US News Honor Roll for Cancer
  • US News Honor Roll for Pulmonology and Lung Surgery
  • American College of Radiology Designated Lung Cancer Screening Center
  • GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence
  • STS (Society of Thoracic Surgeons) National Database Participant
  • American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer High Volume Center
  • National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network Member
  • American Cancer Society and Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Verification Program Pilot Site
  • Recognition by the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification Program

Telehealth Services

Telehealth services

Patients Can Schedule Video Visits With Their Uc Davis Lung Cancer Specialists

Knowing that many of our patients live considerable distances from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, we offer them the option of scheduling consultations with our physicians by telehealth. Telehealth includes videoconferencing technology similar to Zoom or Apple FaceTime, but within a secure structure that preserves patient confidentiality. Telehealth video visits enable you to speak face to face with your doctor without leaving your home. Scheduling a video visit enables patients to avoid traffic congestion and save time while still obtaining the information they need regarding their care.

You can connect with members of your lung cancer care team electronically using the MyUCDavisHealth application or web portal on your phone, tablet or computer.

Clinicians in distant or remote communities also routinely use specialized telehealth technology to maintain contact with UC Davis lung cancer specialists and to participate in tumor board meetings to discuss treatment plans for their patients.

That service is simply one reflection of our respect for the needs of our patients.

Your patient navigators will find out about your insurance eligibility and help verify authorization from your medical insurer and will help coordinate scheduling your imaging studies and appointments with clinicians. The navigators also will remain available throughout your lung cancer journey just to talk to you and to make certain that you’re not becoming overwhelmed or stressed out. Navigators also help coordinate various procedures for patients who enroll in clinical trials.

While the path to remission and recovery can be complicated, your patient navigator from our Lung Cancer Integrated Service Line team will guide you throughout your journey.

  • Video visit

    How to Set Up a Video Visit

    Your UC Davis doctor’s office can help you establish your own MyUCDavisHealth account, which you can use to access your medical data and to schedule video visits with your UC Davis physicians.

    Get Started

Commitment To Equity

Cancer health outcomes throughout our nation, and even within our region, are not equal among differing groups of people. Rural residents and communities of color, for example, face financial and physical barriers that can impede their access to cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment. These cancer health disparities make notable differences in cancer incidence and outcomes among various population groups. 

UC Davis Health has long maintained a strong commitment to health equity, with the intention of enabling all community members to obtain the care they need. The Center for Advancing Cancer Health Equity, which UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center established in 2022, oversees community-based research and interventions to overcome barriers that limit access to care.

Factors that influence accessibility to care include:

  • Socioeconomic, education and income levels
  • English language fluency and culture
  • Availability of fresh produce and other healthy foods
  • Lifestyle behaviors
  • Genetic susceptibility
  • Surrounding environment — for example, exposure to pollution or pesticides
  • Dr. Lara

    How UC Davis Is Overcoming Barriers

    “Avoiding or surviving cancer should not depend on your ZIP code,” observed medical oncologist Primo “Lucky” Lara Jr., director of UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Center for Advancing Cancer Health Equity generates knowledge to inform policymakers about ways to resolve barriers and improve targeted cancer education, prevention and treatment activities.

    About the Center for Advancing Health Equity