- Diseases We Treat

Provider

Faculty

William P. Harris, MD

Specialty:

Medical Oncology

Physician, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington

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About

Dr. William P. Harris is a board-certified medical oncologist and researcher at Fred Hutch who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers. He conducts clinical trials to advance targeted and immune-based therapies.

Background

Dr. Harris cares for people with gastrointestinal cancers, such as those of the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, colon, rectum, anus, stomach and esophagus. He is a consultant for the multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Specialty Clinic and the Liver Tumor Clinic at UW Medical Center – Montlake. He is also a moderator for UW’s Gastrointestinal Malignancy Tumor Board, helping guide complex treatment decisions through collaborative care.

In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Harris designs and conducts clinical trials. His research focuses on developing new targeted therapies, immunotherapies, novel drug combinations and other experimental treatments for liver and biliary tract cancers. His research also includes analyzing treatment outcomes data for patients with gastrointestinal cancers to identify ways to improve care. Another key area of interest for Dr. Harris is finding new treatment options for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma.

Area of Clinical Practice
Gastrointestinal cancers

“I get to know my patients well. It’s an important part of guiding them through some very big and complicated decisions.”

— Dr. Harris

What experiences have informed your approach to oncology?

It was always my plan to work in cancer care, but I wanted to have broader medical training first, so I studied internal medicine before pursuing oncology. This background has proven valuable for helping me understand a patient’s entire medical history and manage the full scope of the difficult problems they face as part of a cancer diagnosis. Oncology is a unique specialty; I feel that we, as cancer physicians, are positioned to practice a delicate balance of the art and science of medicine. a

What do you want patients to know about working with you?

I believe in designing a treatment plan based upon the specifics of your unique case: the biology of your disease, your lifestyle preferences, how aggressively you want to approach the cancer and the risks you’re prepared to take to get the best results. I get to know my patients well. It’s an important part of guiding them through some very big and complicated decisions. Sometimes those decisions involve whether to participate in clinical trials, which provide access to new, promising therapeutic agents. Cancer therapy has come a long way, but there is still room for improvement. Trials can offer patients the latest advancements in care — and raise the bar for what will be the next standard of care.

Diseases Treated

Esophageal Cancer

Liver Tumors and Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Research Interests

Dr. Harris is involved in several ongoing investigations of new therapeutics for the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies. His main current focus of investigation involves the study of new drugs such as targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy, the study of novel combinations of drugs, or local interventions in combination with experimental drug therapies for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancers (including cholangiocarcinoma). These trials include Phase I-III trials. Additional areas of focus include data analysis of outcomes after localized or systemic therapy for gastrointestinal malignancies, as well as identification of new treatments for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a rare disease affecting children and young adults.

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Medical Oncology, Fred Hutch/University of Washington; Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical Center

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Washington

MD, Columbia University

BS, Brown University

Board Certification

Medical Oncology, 2010, American Board of Internal Medicine

Awards

Seattle Magazine's 2025 Top Doctors Award
Dr. Harris has received this peer-nominated award for exceptional patient care for multiple years.

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 Trials Led by Dr. Harris

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. Harris'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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Contact Information

Phone:

Email:

wph3@u.washington.edu

Fax:

206.606.1090