From hidden gem to regional referral center: The evolution of ENT at UCI Health

In this episode of Physician Huddle by UCI Health, Lindsay Carrillo, MBA and Sunil Verma, MD, sit down with Tjoson Tjoa, MD, Chair of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, to discuss the department’s transformation from a single-digit-faculty service line to a rapidly expanding, subspecialty-driven academic program.

Tjoa reflects on returning to UCI Health after fellowship, building a head and neck cancer practice through community engagement and availability, and ultimately stepping into departmental leadership. He shares lessons learned about referral network development, physician accessibility, and the importance of creating sustainable growth that supports both patient access and physician wellness.

The conversation also explores how recent health system expansion, including the opening of UCI Health – Irvine and the launch of a dedicated ENT presence in Brea, has lifted longstanding constraints on ambulatory and operating room capacity. With 19 faculty members and at least two subspecialists in every major ENT discipline, the department is positioning itself as a regional referral destination serving Orange County, the Inland Empire, and eastern Los Angeles County.

Tjoa also outlines emerging research strengths, including nationally recognized innovations in hearing science and spatial genomics in head and neck cancer.

Together, these efforts aim to elevate national reputation while maintaining the UCI Health identity as an accessible and collegial academic medical center.

Topics Discussed:

• Building a head and neck cancer referral network through availability and community engagement
• Aligning departmental growth with health system expansion
• Doubling faculty size to meet regional demand
• Subspecialization across seven ENT disciplines
• Expanding ambulatory access in Brea and Irvine
• Creating geographically rooted care teams to improve continuity and wellness
• Strengthening collaboration between clinicians and campus researchers
• Nationally recognized hearing research and cochlear innovation
• Spatial genomics and transcriptomics in head and neck cancer
• Balancing local community access with national academic reputation

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Refer a patient at referralportal.ucihealth.org and learn more about ongoing clinical trials at ucihealth.org/clinical-trials.