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Bhatia
Shailender Bhatia, MD

Shailender Bhatia, MD

Medical Oncology

  • Director, Melanoma and Renal Cancer Team, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Member, Pathogen-Associated Malignancies Integrated Research Center (PAM IRC)
  • Lyn and Daniel Lerner Endowed Chair for Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Shailender Bhatia is a medical oncologist and researcher specializing in advanced skin cancers at Fred Hutch. He researches how to improve outcomes for people with kidney cancers and skin cancers including melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background

Dr. Bhatia is director of the Melanoma and Renal Cancer Team at Fred Hutch. He cares for patients with kidney cancer and advanced skin cancers that often require ongoing monitoring and systemic treatment. His clinical focus is on melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and other non-melanoma skin cancers, including ocular melanoma, a rare cancer that affects pigment-producing cells in the eye.

In addition to patient care, Dr. Bhatia leads clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for people with these cancers. His research focuses on developing new immunotherapies, treatments that stimulate the immune system to fight cancer and targeted therapies designed to reduce unnecessary side effects. He is particularly interested in intra-tumoral immunotherapy, an approach in which cancer medications are injected directly into a tumor to enhance effectiveness while limiting effects on the rest of the body.

As people with skin and kidney cancers are living longer, Dr. Bhatia is also committed to improving the overall treatment experience. His work includes efforts to reduce the financial and logistical burdens of cancer care by optimizing how often immunotherapy drugs are given, refining dosing and minimizing avoidable health care costs, all while maintaining effective treatment.

Area of Clinical Practice
Kidney cancer, skin cancers
Melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, other non‑melanoma skin cancers

“I believe that it truly takes a village to deliver optimal care to our patients, and at Fred Hutch, patients have that village — compassionate professionals at all levels, who have committed themselves to easing the burden of cancer on the lives of our patients and their caregivers as much as possible.”

— Dr. Bhatia

What would you like patients to know about your approach to care?

Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is challenging at so many levels. Our team strives hard through thoughtful, strategic treatment planning and shared decision-making to ensure that our patients feel confident in their recommended treatment path. We discuss the specific and realistic goals for each patient’s unique situation, ranging from cure to prolongation of life, while improving/preserving their quality-of-life as much as possible. We use all the tools at our disposal, including standard therapies and clinical trials, to give our patients the best chance at long-term success. I believe that it truly takes a village to deliver optimal care to our patients, and at Fred Hutch, patients have that village — compassionate professionals at all levels, who have committed themselves to easing the burden of cancer on the lives of our patients and their caregivers as much as possible.

Why did you become a medical oncologist?

I first became interested in hematology-oncology during my internal medicine residency, when I met a cancer patient with a compromised immune system whose immune cells were eating up (phagocytosis) their own blood cells. The microscopic images of blood cells being swallowed by immune cells got me thinking about the marvels of our immune system, and have shaped my career path. I immediately became interested in harnessing the power of our immune system towards eliminating cancer and hence, sought a fellowship at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington School of Medicine, the epicenter of immunotherapy. I subsequently chose to pursue this interest in skin cancers that were considered exceedingly challenging to treat but are now at the forefront of the cancer immunotherapy revolution. One of the aspects of my practice that I enjoy the most is bringing leading-edge clinical trials to our patients, which can offer hope when standard therapies aren’t effective enough.

Diseases Treated

Melanoma

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Skin Cancer

Research Interests

Dr. Bhatia’s research efforts are mostly focused on clinical trials that aim at improving outcomes in skin cancers (especially Melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma). He is especially interested in those novel therapeutic approaches that stimulate the immune system against cancer and those that target therapy to the tumors in order to spare unnecessary toxicity.

Languages

English
Hindi
Punjabi

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington

Internship, University of Connecticut Health Center

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center

MD, All India Institute of Medical Sciences

Board Certifications
Medical Oncology, 2008; Hematology, 2008, Internal Medicine, 2004, American Board of Internal Medicine

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians and researchers. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Bhatia

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by others in their field and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Bhatia's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dietitians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders. 

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Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

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Stories

All news
Dr. Lisa Tachiki named Kuni Foundation 2025 Cancer Research Fellow
Dr. Lisa Tachiki named Kuni Foundation 2025 Cancer Research Fellow Flexible funding supports research to expand immune checkpoint inhibitor access March 11, 2026
Dr. Shailender Bhatia receives the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Endowed Chair in Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Dr. Shailender Bhatia receives the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Endowed Chair in Merkel Cell Carcinoma A family’s generosity will fuel the search for new ways to treat an aggressive skin cancer September 15, 2025
$5.25M from the Kuni Foundation propels innovative adult oncology research
$5.25M from the Kuni Foundation propels innovative adult oncology research Grants will support research on tumor regression, immunotherapy access and better care for breast, liver and peritoneal malignancies June 28, 2024

Contact Information

206.606.1314