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Holmberg
Leona A. Holmberg, MD, PhD

Leona A. Holmberg, MD, PhD

Medical Oncology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Affiliate Investigator, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Leona Holmberg is a board-certified medical oncologist and researcher Fred Hutch specializing in blood and marrow transplantation and cellular immunotherapy. She cares for people with blood cancers and leads clinical trials focused on strengthening the immune system after a transplant.

Background

Dr. Holmberg divides her time between providing patient care and leading multiple clinical trials each year. She is particularly interested in caring for patients undergoing autologous transplantation, in which a patient’s own blood-forming stem cells are collected and used as part of treatment.

As a researcher, Dr. Holmberg focuses on understanding why cancer can return after autologous transplantation and how the weakened immune system immediately following transplant may contribute to relapse. Her work focuses on developing strategies to augment, or strengthen, immune function after transplant to prevent disease relapse and prolong survival. She designs and leads clinical trials testing drug combinations, immunotherapy agents and vaccines intended to support immune recovery and reduce relapse risk.

Dr. Holmberg is an active member of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the SWOG Cancer Research Network. In recognition of her commitment to patient care, she received the inaugural Dr. Ali Al-Johani Award from Fred Hutch in 2001, honoring excellence in clinical care.

Area of Clinical Practice
Adult blood and marrow transplantation, cellular immunotherapy

“Caring for patients enriches my life; I get more from them than I think I give.”

— Dr. Holmberg

Why did you become a physician?

During my years at Harvard University, I had diverse interests, from history to different areas of science. I was brought up to be a specialist in a lot of different things, but it was really immunology (the study of how the immune system functions) that grabbed on to my imagination. After working with transplant physicians and researchers, I realized that to do the work I wanted to do, I needed to become a doctor. I went to medical school so I could learn to perform transplants and implement research about how to use immunology to cure cancer.

What’s it like to work with you?

I consider myself very lucky because I love what I do, and that joy is evident in how I care for my patients. I think they appreciate my empathy, compassion and sincerity. When you come in for a visit, I focus on explaining your diagnosis and presenting you with your treatment options so that you can think through how to move forward. There is no right or wrong answer; only you can decide how you want to live your life, and there are no guarantees that any particular therapy will work for you. My role is to give you choices and then support you in whatever path you decide to take.

Diseases Treated

Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma

Multiple Myeloma

Lymphoma

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia

Languages

English

Education, Experience and Certifications

Fellowship, University of Washington

Residency, University of Washington

MD, University of Miami

PhD, Harvard University

BA, Harvard University

Internship, University of Rochester

Board Certification

Medical Oncology, 1991, 2016, 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. Holmberg

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. Holmbergs Publications

Your Care Team

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. 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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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
Al-Johani Award will support new transplant protocol for Crohn's disease
Al-Johani Award will support new transplant protocol for Crohn's disease Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center clinical investigator George McDonald will use the prize to 'pay it forward' by studying a new treatment approach for an incurable disease April 29, 2013

Contact Information

206.667.6447

206.667.4937