Mr. Edward L. Nelson, MD, FACP

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Get to know Hematologist-Oncologist Dr. Edward L. Nelson, who serves patients in Irvine, California.

Recognized as a caring and compassionate hematologist-oncologist, Dr. Nelson is renowned for his expertise across a spectrum of clinical interests that encompass breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, integrative oncology, cancer survivorship, psychoneuroimmunology, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, oncology education, tumor immunology, and immunotherapy. His comprehensive approach to patient care extends to diverse medical services, including blood disorder services, hematology oncology services, medical oncology services, and cancer services, offered at the prestigious Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic.

Before embarking on his professional journey, he graduated from the Oregon Health Sciences University. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, where he laid the groundwork for his subsequent career in oncology. Furthermore he honed his skills and expertise through fellowship training at Stanford University, focusing on oncology and pediatric immunology.

An expert in his field, the doctor is board-certified in medical oncology and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Alongside his clinical role, Dr. Nelson currently serves as Professor and Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology within the Department of Medicine at the UCI School of Medicine. Additionally, he holds a professorship in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry at the UCI School of Biological Sciences. He is an active member of prestigious research institutes, including the Cancer Research Institute, the Center for Immunology, and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. His commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration is further evidenced by his membership in the NSF-IGERT LifeChips Program.

Hematology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. A hematologist-oncologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of cancer, malignant blood diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, and blood disorders such as iron-deficiency anemia, clotting abnormalities, hemophilia, and sickle-cell disease.

Among his most notable achievements, Dr. Nelson has been consistently recognized as one of “America’s Top Doctors” by Castle Connolly Magazine, particularly in the areas of gastrointestinal cancer and lymphoma. His dedication to excellence in patient care has earned him repeated accolades as a “Physician of Excellence” by the Orange County Medical Association. His professional achievements were further acknowledged with his election as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

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