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Issaka
Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS
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Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS

Gastroenterology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Director, Population Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, Fred Hutch and UW Medicine
  • Associate Professor, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutch
  • Kathryn Surace-Smith Endowed Chair in Health Equity Research, Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
  • Member, Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR), Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine; Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Issaka Lab

About

Dr. Rachel Issaka is a board-certified gastroenterologist and researcher at Fred Hutch, specializing in gastrointestinal cancers and digestive problems related to cancer or its treatment. She cares for patients while leading research to improve colorectal cancer screening and reduce disparities in outcomes.

Background

Dr. Issaka cares for patients by helping them manage digestive issues associated with cancer or cancer treatment, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and other symptoms that affect quality of life. She supports patients with all types of cancer, supporting them during and after treatment to help improve day-to-day wellbeing.

Dr. Issaka is the director of Fred Hutch and UW Medicine's Population Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. Her research covers the full continuum of colorectal cancer care, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis and long-term surveillance.

She leads a Fred Hutch lab dedicated to improving colorectal cancer outcomes by increasing participation in screening and ensuring appropriate follow-up after abnormal stool-based screening tests. Her work emphasizes identifying, measuring and implementing better approaches to screening both in Seattle and across the United States. A central goal of Dr. Issaka’s research is to decrease deaths from colorectal cancer, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved populations.

Area of Clinical Practice
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, GI problems associated with cancer and cancer treatment

“My approach to care is based on meeting patients where they are — understanding what each person needs at that moment in time and what obstacles they face, and then finding the resources and tools to help them achieve their health goals. I want patients to walk away from our consultations feeling empowered to handle any gastrointestinal challenge.”

— Dr. Issaka

What experiences have informed your clinical research and approach to care?

During my medical residency, I provided care at two clinics in Chicago. One was in downtown, and the other was on the South Side. My patients in the downtown clinic, who were mostly white, would almost always accept my offer to complete colorectal cancer screening, while my patients on the South Side, who were mostly Black and Latino, were much more hesitant about completing screening. I wondered why there was such a difference in responses to a potentially lifesaving test. I would come to learn about the multiple barriers many racial and ethnic minorities and low-income individuals face in accessing colon cancer screenings: a lack of referral, transportation and care coordination, to name just a few. That experience inspired my current clinical research in colon cancer and has also influenced the way I practice medicine. My approach to care is based on meeting patients where they are — understanding what each person needs at that moment in time and what obstacles they face, and then finding the resources and tools to help them achieve their health goals. I want patients to walk away from our consultations feeling empowered to handle any gastrointestinal challenge.

Tell us about an interaction with a patient that has had a significant impact on you.

I was a member of the care team for a patient who was experiencing symptoms consistent with colon cancer. I performed his colonoscopy and unfortunately found a tumor. Our pathologists quickly confirmed the diagnosis of cancer, and our radiologists were able to complete his scans a few days later, which showed the cancer had not spread outside of his colon. Within the same week, he was able to meet the surgeon, who ultimately removed the cancer. A week later, he was thrilled to be discharged from the hospital. Not every situation turns out this way, but the reason we were able to coordinate his care so rapidly was because of the multidisciplinary nature of Fred Hutch. Sharing space with a variety of cancer care experts facilitates collaboration and ultimately improves our patients’ experiences and outcomes.

Diseases Treated

Colon Cancer

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Research Interests

Optimizing interventions that improve colorectal cancer care outcomes

Achieving health equity in colorectal cancer care in medically underserved populations

Colorectal cancer screening as a model for precision population health

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Gastroentereology and Hepatology, University of California, San Francisco

MAS, Clinical Research, University of California, San Francisco

Residency, Internal Medicine, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

MD, University of Michigan

BS, Biology, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2005

Board Certification

Gastroenterology, 2017; Internal Medicine, 2013, American Board of Internal Medicine

Awards

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

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. Issaka

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. Issaka'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 dieticians, 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
Strengthening cancer care by building trust and community
Strengthening cancer care by building trust and community 10th annual Pathways to Health Symposium highlights projects, best practices for expanding care throughout Washington state May 29, 2026
Can you get a cancer screening without insurance?
Can you get a cancer screening without insurance? Uninsured? Underinsured? Mammograms and other preventive cancer screenings are still available March 19, 2026
Cancer Action Plan of Washington (CAPOW) packs a punch
Cancer Action Plan of Washington (CAPOW) packs a punch New 5-year plan maps out key strategies to reduce cancer rates, deaths by boosting health literacy, screening, prevention and equity efforts February 11, 2026

Contact Information

206.667.5977