
Overview
Dr. Palchak has bachelor's and master's degrees in biology from UC Irvine. He received his doctorate in medicine from St. Louis University, did a residency in internal medicine at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, then medical oncology fellowship at UC San Diego. He established an independent medical oncology practice in Arroyo Grande in 1994 and has practiced continuously in the south county since that date. He established the region's first cancer research program, first tumor board, first nonprofit to expand services for cancer patients in our community among many other firsts.Respect the patient's wishes and treat others as we wish to be treated.
Dr. Palchak is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of WT1-Related Wilms Tumor Syndromes. His top areas of expertise are Colorectal Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Anal Cancer, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.
His clinical research consists of participating in 2 clinical trials. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years.
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE SNP
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
Accepted plan types not found. Please verify directly with the provider.
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- PPO
- OTHER MANAGED MEDICAID
- OTHER MEDICAID
- STATE MEDICAID
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Locations
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
2 Clinical Trials
Oncology & Hematology - Mission Hope - Santa Maria, CA
Dr. Wei Bai grew up in Beijing, China. In 1995, she graduated from Peking University Health Science Center (previously known as Beijing Medical University) with distinction. She then pursued graduate study in the United States. Upon receiving her master’s degree in Molecular Medicine from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1998, Dr. Bai joined a leading biotech company, Genentech, Inc., in South San Francisco to pursue her passion in translational research. She participated in research and development of several cancer drugs, including trastuzumab (Herceptin), bevacizumab (Avastin), and erlotinib (Tarceva), among others in the company pipeline.Excited to bring bench research to bedside practice, Dr. Bai ultimately transitioned to direct patient care in 2005. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital in 2008, which included several months of clinical rotation at Memorial loan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Dr. Bai’s experience at MSKCC further enforced her commitment to oncology research and practice. She proceeded to a combined Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center of Georgetown University in Washington DC from 2008 to 2011.After her fellowship, Dr. Bai practiced hematology and medical oncology in the Samaritan Health System in Oregon. During her nine years with Samaritan, she treated patients with a wide range of cancer types and blood diseases. She served her patients with PRIDE — passion, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence. Dr. Bai was also active in clinical trials and resident education.Since 2020, Dr. Bai joined the team at Mission Hope Cancer Center. Compassionate and calm, she is devoted to each individual patient’s needs and goals. Dr. Bai is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of WT1-Related Wilms Tumor Syndromes. Her top areas of expertise are Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Familial Colorectal Cancer, and Hemochromatosis.
Cancer Center - Dignity Health - San Luis Obispo, CA
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 MedicineMedical School:Hacettepe University School of MedicineInternal Medicine Residency:Hacettepe University School of MedicineFellowship Training:Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins UniversityAreas of Interest:All Cancers including: Autoimmune Cancer, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, Rectal Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Gallbladder Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, MelanomaAdditional Education: Master of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2005. Awards and Recognition: Chief's Hematology and Oncology Scholar Award, Boston University 1995-1997 Jo-Ann McCaleb Amyloid Research Award 1997 Henry Christian Award, American Federation of Medical Research 2002. Dr. Akpek is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of WT1-Related Wilms Tumor Syndromes. His top areas of expertise are Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Splenectomy.
Oncology & Hematology - Mission Hope - Santa Maria, CA
Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Kennedy provides compassionate care for patients at Mission Hope Cancer Center, and works collaboratively with all departments to provide patients with all aspects of cancer care. Dr. Kennedy is able to offer patients the most advanced treatment with enrollment in cutting edge clinical research studies. She has years of experience in the treatment and diagnosis of all cancers and provides her patients with individualized care for the best possible outcomes.An educator at heart, Dr. Kennedy has a passion for teaching her patients about their disease and how their treatments work. Understanding a disease is empowering for the patient and can remove some of the fear associated with a cancer diagnosis.Dr. Kennedy received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of California Davis, and Hematology-Oncology fellowship program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center-Stephenson Cancer Center.As an experienced principal investigator on numerous clinical trials for cancer therapies, Dr. Kennedy has published her findings in national medical journals, and puts her research knowledge into practice when treating patients. Dr. Kennedy is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of WT1-Related Wilms Tumor Syndromes. Her top areas of expertise are Large-Cell Immunoblastic Lymphoma, Anal Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, and Lung Cancer.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Distinguished
- Anal CancerDr. Palchak isDistinguished. Learn about Anal Cancer.
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)Dr. Palchak isDistinguished. Learn about Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
- Colorectal CancerDr. Palchak isDistinguished. Learn about Colorectal Cancer.
- Familial Colorectal CancerDr. Palchak isDistinguished. Learn about Familial Colorectal Cancer.
- Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)
- Neuroendocrine TumorDr. Palchak isDistinguished. Learn about Neuroendocrine Tumor.
- Advanced
- Adult Soft Tissue SarcomaDr. Palchak isAdvanced. Learn about Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
- AnemiaDr. Palchak isAdvanced. Learn about Anemia.
- AngiosarcomaDr. Palchak isAdvanced. Learn about Angiosarcoma.
- Breast CancerDr. Palchak isAdvanced. Learn about Breast Cancer.
- Childhood Iron Deficiency AnemiaDr. Palchak isAdvanced. Learn about Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia.
- Chronic B-Cell Leukemia (CBCL)Dr. Palchak isAdvanced. Learn about Chronic B-Cell Leukemia (CBCL).
- Experienced
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)Dr. Palchak isExperienced. Learn about Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
- Acute Mountain SicknessDr. Palchak isExperienced. Learn about Acute Mountain Sickness.
- Adult Immune ThrombocytopeniaDr. Palchak isExperienced. Learn about Adult Immune Thrombocytopenia.
- AgranulocytosisDr. Palchak isExperienced. Learn about Agranulocytosis.
- ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung CancerDr. Palchak isExperienced. Learn about ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
- Alveolar Soft Part SarcomaDr. Palchak isExperienced. Learn about Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma.


