Daniel Vicario, M.D., ABIHM
Medical Oncology and Integrative Oncology
Co-Founder, Board Member, Director of Integrative Oncology
San Diego Cancer Research Institute. 501 (c) (3)
Co-Founder, San Diego Cancer Center (SDCC), now U.C. San Diego Cancer Center, North County
Former Medical Director, SDCC and U.C. San Diego Cancer Center
Integrative Oncology consultant, Guarneri Integrative Health at Pacific Pearl, La Jolla, CA
Former Integrative Oncology consultant, Chopra Center for Wellbeing
Board of Directors, Consciousness and Healing Initiative (CHI). 501 (c) (3)
Executive Director, UCSD Centers for Integrative Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Associate Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Dr. Daniel Vicario, M.D. is a board-certified Medical Oncologist who has dedicated more than two decades to advancing the field of Integrative Oncology. Throughout his career, he has combined the best of conventional cancer care with evidence-informed integrative practices, guided by a lifelong commitment to improving quality of life for patients and their families.
Education and Early Career
Dr. Vicario graduated with honors from the University of Buenos Aires, School of Medicine in 1983. After returning to his native California, he completed a fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology at Stanford University Medical Center. From 1985 to 1989, he trained in Internal Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, where he also served as Chief Resident. He then specialized in Hematology/Oncology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) from 1989 to 1992 and was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSD from 1992 to 1994.
San Diego Cancer Center & San Diego Cancer Research Institute
In 1994, Dr. Vicario co-founded the San Diego Cancer Center (SDCC) in collaboration with Dr. Mark Adler. For two decades, he served as Medical Director, overseeing both clinical care and the integration of emerging therapies. In 2011, SDCC became part of the University of California San Diego, where Dr. Vicario remained Medical Director until 2015
In 1998, together with Dr. Adler, he co-founded the San Diego Cancer Research Institute (SDCRI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to research, education, and innovative models of cancer care. At SDCC, Dr. Vicario’s research has spanned cancer prevention, immunotherapy, genomic oncology, epigenetics, and integrative medicine. He continues to serve as Medical Director and Director of Integrative Oncology at SDCRI.
Integrative Oncology Leadership
In 1995, Dr. Vicario launched the Integrative Oncology Program at the San Diego Cancer Center (SDCC). Expanded under the nonprofit San Diego Cancer Research Institute (SDCRI) in 1998, this program became one of the most comprehensive integrative oncology initiatives in the nation. Patients received state-of-the-art medical treatments alongside complementary services such as acupuncture, massage, mind–body therapies, nutrition counseling, energy medicine, and spiritual care.
The program thrived for two decades, supported by a devoted network of volunteers and practitioners. Patients often described the Center as a sanctuary of healing. Though the program closed in 2015, its spirit and impact remain a lasting legacy. Dr. Vicario continues to honor the countless hours of service and love that created this transformative model of care.
In 2015, Dr. Vicario made the intentional decision to dedicate himself fully to the field of Integrative Oncology, building on decades of experience in both conventional oncology and complementary healing approaches. This shift allowed him to deepen his collaborations with physicians, researchers, and integrative practitioners across disciplines, fostering a more holistic and collaborative model of cancer care. His ongoing work continues to emphasize improving quality of life for patients and their families, advancing integrative oncology research, and promoting models of care that address not only disease, but the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Dr. Vicario’s areas of focus span a wide spectrum of healing traditions and evidence-informed practices, including:
- Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture: for symptom management, energy balance and quality of life
- Ayurveda and Indigenous Medicine: honoring ancient wisdom traditions and holistic approaches
- Lifestyle and Wellness: emphasizing exercise, stress management, sleep, and self-care
- Integrative Nutrition: supporting resilience and vitality through food as medicine
- Meditation and Mind–Body Medicine: cultivating mindfulness, inner peace, and emotional well-being
- Biofield Therapies: exploring the role of energy healing and subtle therapies in restoring harmony
Through this integrative lens, Dr. Vicario continues to advance research, education, and clinical care that unite science, compassion, and healing traditions, always with the goal of supporting patients in finding strength, meaning, and wholeness throughout their cancer journey.
UC San Diego Centers for Integrative Health
In October 2024, Dr. Vicario was invited to serve as the Interim Executive Director of the UC San Diego Centers for Integrative Health (CIH). Originally a one-year appointment, his leadership was extended to further expand the Center’s vision and impact.
At UCSD CIH, Dr. Vicario has emphasized:
- Building Collaborations: Partnering with local, statewide, and national leaders in integrative medicine and whole-person health.
- Expanding Programs: Supporting new initiatives in clinical care, research, and education that bridge conventional and complementary medicine.
- Enhancing Visibility: Positioning UCSD CIH as a national leader recognized for its innovation, scientific rigor, and compassionate model of care.
His leadership reflects both his decades of clinical experience and his enduring commitment to embedding integrative medicine into academic health systems.
Service, Teaching, and Recognition
Since 1989, Dr. Vicario has been deeply engaged in the San Diego community, volunteering in diverse roles:
- Medical Director of three hospices over several years
- Chairman of cancer committees and service on multiple professional advisory boards
- Board member for nonprofit cancer organizations
- Speaker and educator for groups such as Survivorship San Diego
He has received multiple awards and recognitions for his tireless dedication to cancer patients and their families. A respected teacher for over 40 years, he has lectured at national and international conferences on oncology, integrative medicine, and whole-person health.
Above all, Dr. Vicario acknowledges that his greatest teachers have been his patients, whose strength, courage, nobility, and humanity continue to guide his work.
Updated August 2025