/content/dam/www/people-profile-photos/g/heather-greenlee/provider-heather-greenlee-directory-1x.jpg
/content/dam/www/people-profile-photos/g/heather-greenlee/provider-heather-greenlee-directory-2x.jpg
Greenlee
Heather Greenlee, ND, PhD, MPH

Heather Greenlee, ND, PhD, MPH

Integrative Medicine

  • Medical Director, Integrative Medicine Program, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Cancer Prevention Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Professor of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Greenlee Lab Cook For Your Life

About

Dr. Heather Greenlee is a naturopathic physician and epidemiologist at Fred Hutch who provides integrative medicine care for people with cancer. She is also a researcher with a focus on lifestyle and integrative approaches to improve symptoms, survivorship and overall health.

Background

Dr. Greenlee is the medical director of the Integrative Medicine Program. She works with patients across all cancer types to support health and wellness goals during and after cancer treatment, using evidence based integrative approaches alongside conventional care.

In her research role, Dr. Greenlee leads work focused on cancer survivorship, prevention, obesity and cancer, and integrative medicine. She has led multiple clinical trials examining diet, physical activity, weight management, acupuncture and dietary supplements to better understand how cancer survivors can manage symptoms and side effects and improve outcomes beyond standard treatment alone. Her work includes a landmark study demonstrating that acupuncture can relieve joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors, a common breast cancer therapy.

Dr. Greenlee has played a national leadership role in the field of integrative oncology. She is a past president of the Society for Integrative Oncology and co led the development of clinical guidelines for using integrative therapies in breast cancer care, which were later endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Her research also includes lifestyle interventions for underserved populations, studies of cardiovascular disease risk in breast cancer survivors, and investigations into physical activity, diet, and the gut microbiome in relation to cancer risk and survivorship.

Area of Clinical Practice
Integrative medicine

“I aim to help you make informed decisions about which integrative therapies to use, with the goal of supporting your mind, body and well-being.”

— Dr. Greenlee

How do you help patients?

I have a broad understanding of how integrative therapies can be used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatment to ease side effects and bolster overall health and well-being. These therapies include practices such as acupuncture and meditation, as well as lifestyle behaviors such as diet and physical activity. I help you make decisions so that you can invest your time and resources into evidence-based activities and practices. Together, we create a plan that evolves over time because what you need during active treatment isn’t necessarily what you need during survivorship. Every step of the way you can expect me to listen, guide you through your options and work in concert with you and your team of medical providers.

Why do you feel passionate about blending integrative medicine with oncology?

Cancer has been up close and personal for me since I was a teenager, when my stepfather was diagnosed with a glioblastoma. His medical treatment was excellent, but much more could have been done to improve his quality of life and help my family navigate the process more smoothly. That experience, in part, was what inspired me to study both naturopathic medicine and epidemiology — I wanted to go beyond just treating disease to focusing on preventing cancer and promoting the health and well-being of patients and their families. What I love about my work is the opportunity to help patients with cancer make sound decisions about using integrative medicine while also conducting research into promising, new therapies.

Diseases Treated

All Cancer Types

Obesity and cancer

Lifestyle interventions (diet, physical activity, weight management) for cancer prevention and control

Use of integrative therapies (acupuncture, mind-body modalities, dietary supplements) for improving symptoms, side effects and quality of life among cancer survivors

Developing clinical practice guidelines on the use of integrative therapies during and after cancer treatment

Cook For Your Life!: Maintaining diet and physical activity changes among Latina breast cancer survivors
Sponsor: NIH/National Cancer Institute
Grant Type: R01 CA214057
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Period: 2015-2020
Goal: To test the effects of in-person and e-communication (e.g., text, email) interventions on improving diet and physical activity among Latina breast cancer survivors.

Predictors of cardiovascular disease among breast cancer survivors in an integrated health system
Sponsor: NIH/National Cancer Institute
Grant Type: R01 CA214057
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funding Period: 2017-2021
Goal: To examine overall cardiovascular disease events in two matched cohorts with and without breast cancer history and test whether breast cancer treatment received and/or medication adherence mediates this relationship.

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health

Past President, Society for Integrative Oncology

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Bastyr Center for Natural Health, Research; Fred Hutch, Research; Columbia University, Cancer Prevention & Control

PhD, Epidemiology, Columbia University

MPH, Epidemiology, University of Washington

ND, Bastyr University

BA, Medical Anthropology, University of Washington

Board Certifications

Naturopathic Physician, 2001

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. Greenlee

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians 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. Greenlee'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. 

Meet Other Providers

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.

More About Insurance

Stories

All news
Supplements don’t prevent cancer, studies show
Supplements don’t prevent cancer, studies show Fred Hutch research finds some supplements offer little benefit, some may increase cancer risk and some can interfere with treatment February 19, 2026
What’s new in breast cancer research? SABCS24 looks at ctDNA, AI and ‘right-sizing’ treatment
What’s new in breast cancer research? SABCS24 looks at ctDNA, AI and ‘right-sizing’ treatment Large research symposium highlights liquid biopsies, new drug combos, shifts in surgical practice and, yes, patient voices December 20, 2024
Bridging the pain communication gap
Bridging the pain communication gap Cancer patient and providers share experiences, tips on communicating pain to inform symptoms and treatments July 13, 2023

Heather Greenlee, ND, PhD, MPH

206.667.4502

206.667.5977

Questions or More Information

Contact: Tovee Delallana
Mailing Address:
Fred Hutch Cancer Center
1100 Fairview Ave. N., Mail Stop M4-B402
Seattle, WA 98109-1024

206.667.7474