Dr. Gary Levine, President of National Consortium of Breast Centers, to Lead MemorialCare Health System Breast Centers in Southern California

ORANGE and LOS ANGELES Counties, Calif., Dec. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gary Levine, M.D., nationally recognized breast radiologist, is joining MemorialCare Health System as Medical Director of MemorialCare Breast Centers in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Among California's busiest and most highly respected centers for detection and treatment of breast cancer, MemorialCare Breast Centers have received numerous accolades for their advancements, innovations and state-of-the-art technology, including being listed among the Nation's Top 10 Breast Centers.

Dr. Levine, president of the National Consortium of Breast Centers, will partner with physician leadership teams at MemorialCare hospitals, including breast surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, certified breast patient navigators and other clinicians that work together in interdisciplinary teams to prevent, detect and treat breast cancer. Dr. Levine has more than 20 years of experience in breast imaging and breast center leadership, including his role for 10 years as Medical Director of Breast Imaging for Hoag Breast Care Center.

A highly recognized speaker and researcher with 100 national and international medical presentations and research studies on breast cancer, Dr. Levine serves as an associate clinic professor of radiology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and as an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Radiological Services at University of California Irvine.

"The addition of a renowned and highly regarded breast radiologist with Dr. Levine's experience, expertise and national reputation furthers MemorialCare's leadership as among the top centers for breast health and breast cancer," says Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., president and CEO of MemorialCare Health System. "It is a testament to MemorialCare's unrelenting commitment to further enhance the exceptional breast care services we currently provide our communities."

Dr. Levine, a graduate of Tufts University in Massachusetts and Albany (NY) Medical College, completed his residency in diagnostic radiology at University of California Irvine Medical Center and a fellowship at the Department of Mammography at Central Hospital of Falun, Sweden. He is board certified by the American Board of Radiology.

A national and international lecturer and peer-reviewed author, Dr. Levine has received numerous honors from his peers as well as a variety of organizations and associations dedicated to quality breast health. He is frequently tapped by the news media as a medical expert in the field of breast cancer and was named as one of the Top 25 Innovators in Health Care by Health IT magazine. Dr. Levine is considered a pioneer in the technique of breast tumor cryoablation, a procedure that involves freezing breast tumors, and assisted by ultrasound guidance, removing those tumors with a minimally invasive procedure.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the caring and compassionate physicians and staff of MemorialCare Breast Centers whose talents and achievements are continually recognized," says Dr. Levine. "I look forward to partnering with these remarkable professionals in advancing breast health and ensuring the continuance of the highest quality of care and access to the latest research and clinical trials for those facing breast cancer and their families."

With locations in Orange and Los Angeles counties, MemorialCare Breast Centers are designated "Breast Centers of Excellence" by the American College of Radiology, offering advanced technology for the highest quality breast imaging and early detection of breast cancer. MemorialCare Breast Centers perform about 85,000 screening and diagnostic breast exams annually. Services include screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, lifetime breast cancer risk evaluation including dense breast imaging protocols, stereotactic breast biopsies and dedicated breast MRI. For more information, visit memorialcare.org/breastcare.

MemorialCare Health System, a nonprofit Southern California integrated delivery system and pioneer in evidence-based medicine, has 200 care sites; 11,500 employees; 2,600 affiliated physicians; six top hospitals—Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children's and Women's Hospital Long Beach, Community Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente; MemorialCare Medical Group; Greater Newport Physicians (GNP); Seaside Health Plan; ambulatory surgery centers; and imaging, outpatient and urgent care facilities. MemorialCare is listed among 35 employers globally receiving the prestigious Gallup Great Workplace Award.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-gary-levine-president-of-national-consortium-of-breast-centers-to-lead-memorialcare-health-system-breast-centers-in-southern-california-300010714.html

SOURCE MemorialCare Health System