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Petersdorf
Effie Wang Petersdorf, MD

Effie Wang Petersdorf, MD

Medical Oncology

  • Medical Director, Unrelated Donor Transplant Program, Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch
  • Madeline Dabney Adams Endowed Chair in AML Research, Fred Hutch
  • Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch
  • Member, Translational Data Science Integrated Research Center (TDS IRC), Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Effie Wang Petersdorf is a medical oncologist and researcher who sees patients at Fred Hutch and studies how genetic factors influence the success of stem cell transplants. 

Background

Dr. Petersdorf is the medical director of the Unrelated Donor Transplant Program at Fred Hutch. She pioneered molecular methods to compare differences between transplant donors and recipients in a key set of genes known as human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, genes. Mismatches in these genes, which play a central role in the immune response, raise the risk of graft-vs.-host disease, a potentially life-threatening complication where newly transplanted cells attack a patient’s body. Dr. Petersdorf has shown that precise and complete HLA typing, and matching of both donor and recipient, can make transplants safer.

She spearheaded the formation of the International Histocompatibility Working Group, a worldwide collaboration among donor registries, transplant centers and HLA laboratories. She also looks beyond HLA typing to find new genes that may influence transplant success. 

Area of Clinical Practice
Adult blood and marrow transplantation

“If we continue to be open-minded and think out of the box, then the patients we see tomorrow or next year or 10 years from now, just like the patients before them, will enjoy better and better outcomes. And we're going to get to that cure.”

— Dr. Petersdorf

Languages

English

Education and Experience 

Fellowship, University of Washington School of Medicine

Residency, University of Washington School of Medicine

MD, School of Medicine, McGill University

BA, Biochemistry, Harvard University

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. Petersdorf

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. Petersdorf'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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Stories

All news
Dr. Fred Appelbaum receives Lifetime Achievement award
Dr. Fred Appelbaum receives Lifetime Achievement award Medical pioneer and longtime Fred Hutch leader honored by American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy February 19, 2023
The legacy of a pioneering transplant immunologist
The legacy of a pioneering transplant immunologist ‘So much to be learned’: Dr. John Hansen reflects on the lives he’s saved and the answers still to come July 11, 2018
New partnership seeks to increase access to lifesaving stem-cell transplants
New partnership seeks to increase access to lifesaving stem-cell transplants Celebrating faculty and staff achievements January 4, 2018

Contact Information

206.667.5244

206.667.5255