Skip to main content
Mariusz Wirga, MD, Psychiatry, Long Beach, CA, Long Beach Medical Center

MariuszWirgaMD(he/him)

Psychiatry Long Beach, CA

Psycho-Oncology, Psychosomatic Medicine

Physician

Dr. Wirga is on Doximity

As a Doximity member you'll join over two million verified healthcare professionals in a private, secure network.

  • Connect with other colleagues in the same hospital or clinic
  • Search all U.S. specialist profiles and refer a patient
  • Read the latest clinical news and earn CME/CEU credits

See Dr. Wirga's full profile

Already have an account?

Summary

  • Mariusz Wirga, Medical Director of Psychosocial Oncology @ Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach, CA, has dedicated his life to helping patients and their families handle the challenges of cancer diagnosis and treatment and their complex consequences. After graduating from the Medical University in Poznan, Poland in 1987, Mariusz began leading groups for cancer patients, first as a resident in pathology and later as a resident in radiation oncology. He eventually switched to psychiatry and completed his residency in Psychiatry at the State University of New York Downstate in Brooklyn, NY, and then Washington, DC, under the supervision of Maxie C. Maultsby, Jr, M.D., (one of the pioneers in cognitive-behavior therapy). Mariusz got certified by the Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2000.
    Mariusz trained extensively with the leaders and pioneers in their fields. Mariusz trained personally with Dr. O. Carl Simonton (radiation oncologist and pioneer of mind-body oncology), Dr. Maxie C. Maultsby Jr, Dr. Albert Ellis (father of cognitive therapies), Dr. Marsha Linehan (a pioneer in personality disorder therapy), Dr. Barbara Andersen (biobehavioral interventions to improve cancer survival), David Burns (TEAM-CBT), Susan Michie and Robert West (lifestyle modification and behavioral change), and Dr. Peter Fenner (mindfulness and Nondual therapy).
    He founded the Beat the Odds®: A Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Program & Boost the Odds Program – From Cancer Survivor to Life Thriver to effectively decrease modifiable lifestyle cancer risk factors and learn skills to improve quality of life.
    Dr. Mariusz Wirga is a co-author (together with Dr. Maxie C. Maultsby Jr. and Michael DeBernardi) of the upcoming book “ABC of Your Emotions” with over 200 cartoon-like illustrations and 250 pages. The book explains how emotions work, how to manage them, how to handle interpersonal conflict, achieve goals, protect your life and health, and feel the way you want to feel.
  • Webinars

    This is a series of 12 webinars with practical skills of dealing with greater and smaller stresses of life and the COVID-19 pandemic made them relevant to all.

Education & Training

  • Howard University
    Howard UniversityResidency, Psychiatry, 1994 - 1997
  • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
    SUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversityInternship, Transitional Year, 1993 - 1994
  • University of Medical Science Poznan
    University of Medical Science PoznanClass of 1987

Certifications & Licensure

  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 2001 - 2025
  • NM State Medical License
    NM State Medical License 1995 - 2004

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification Practice Fusion EHR, Practice Fusion, Inc., 2012-2013

Publications & Presentations

Journal Articles

  • Maultsby’s Rational Behavior Therapy: Background, Description, Practical Applications, and Recent Developments  
    Mariusz Wirga, Michael DeBernardi, Aleksandra Wirga, Marta L. Wirga, Marta Banout & Olga Gulyayeva Fuller, Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 2/24/2020
  • The ABCs of cognition, emotion, and action  
    Mariusz Wirga, Michael DeBernardi, Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 3/2002

Authored Content

  • The Application of Maultsby’s Rational Behavior Therapy in Psychosis – A Case ReportApril 2021
  • Our Memories of Maxie C. Maultsby Jr. 1932–2016December 2018

Press Mentions

  • Czy naprawdę we wszystkim musimy być perfekcyjni?
    Czy naprawdę we wszystkim musimy być perfekcyjni?July 24th, 2020
  • 2 SCNG Columnists Among Those Honored at Long Beach Cancer League Gala
    2 SCNG Columnists Among Those Honored at Long Beach Cancer League GalaJune 5th, 2023

Hospital Affiliations