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Dussault
Nicole Dussault, MD, MS

Nicole Dussault, MD, MS

Palliative Care

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Assistant Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Nicole Dussault is a board-certified physician and researcher at Fred Hutch, providing care to improve quality of life while leading research to strengthen how care is delivered for serious illness.

Background

Dr. Dussault specializes in palliative care for people with cancer, helping patients manage symptoms, clarify their values and navigate complex medical decisions. She emphasizes the importance of strong physician-patient relationships and is committed to keeping this principle at the heart of every interaction. 

Her research focuses on improving systems of care for patients with serious illnesses. She has studied the challenges that primary care providers face when discussing patients’ future care preferences and designed an innovative program that involved chaplains to help improve how these conversations are documented. Dr. Dussault’s work has also examined the barriers and support in delivering early outpatient palliative care, with the goal of making these services more accessible and effective.

In one project, Dr. Dussault led an initiative to improve care for patients living with substance use disorders by developing new, pharmacy-informed workflows and care protocols.

Area of Clinical Practice
Palliative care

“I care deeply about getting to know each patient as a whole person and understanding their lives, goals and values. I want to make sure care is guided by what matters most to each patient.”

— Dr. Dussault

Have you had personal experience with cancer?  

My grandmother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and faced many challenges with managing her symptoms and making difficult medical decisions. Our family supported her as best we could, but it was still overwhelming at times. What made the greatest difference was the team of compassionate and dedicated physicians who helped her control her symptoms and focused on what mattered most to her in her care. 

How do you approach providing patient care? Do you have any favorite memories of time with a patient? 

My approach to care is centered on the physician-patient relationship, compassion and listening. I am deeply committed to improving palliative care for patients through both clinical work and research. I believe patients are the experts on their own lives, and that providers should always listen to the patient first. I strive to be a compassionate advocate for all patients, especially for those who may have difficulty advocating for themselves. 

One of my favorite memories is of a patient I worked with for more than three years who struggled with severe pain. As we built a relationship, she began to share more about her life. This helped me better understand the context of her pain, and together we found approaches that gave her meaningful relief. 

Research Focus

Health services research in palliative care

Multidisciplinary team interventions

Education and training of medical providers around Trauma-Informed Care

Quantitative analysis and predictive modeling

Improving care for persons with substance use disorder

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Palliative Care, Duke University

Residency, Internal Medicine, Duke University

MD, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

MS, Biomedical Informatics, University of Chicago Graham School

BA, Economics, Columbia University

Board Certifications

Internal Medicine, 2024, 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.

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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. Dussault'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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