/content/dam/www/people-profile-photos/p/warren-phipps/provider-warren-phipps-directory-1x.jpg
/content/dam/www/people-profile-photos/p/warren-phipps/provider-warren-phipps-directory-2x.jpg
Phipps
Warren T. Phipps, MD, MPH

Warren T. Phipps, MD, MPH

Infectious Disease

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutch
  • Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine

About

Dr. Warren Phipps is a board-certified infectious disease physician and researcher at Fred Hutch. He focuses on infections in patients with cancer and HIV associated malignancies, providing care while conducting research to improve outcomes for immunocompromised patients.

Background

Dr. Phipps specializes in caring for people with cancer or other conditions that weaken the immune system. He works closely with the blood and marrow transplant team to help prevent, diagnose and manage infections in patients undergoing treatment.

He studies antimicrobial resistant bacteria — germs that evade standard antibiotics — as a cause of infection in patients with cancer. Across his clinical and research work, he aims to improve infection care and cancer outcomes for people with weakened immune systems, both in the United States and globally.

Dr. Phipps was deputy director of Fred Hutch’s former Global Oncology Program where he conducted research at the UCI Global Oncology Research Centre in Kampala, Uganda. There, he spent time treating patients and collaborating with local clinicians. His research focused on HIV associated malignancies, particularly Kaposi sarcoma, a cancer caused by a virus (HHV 8) and a leading cause of cancer related death in Uganda. He established one of the largest cohorts of Kaposi sarcoma patients worldwide, and he and his Kampala team built a collection of biopsies from more than 1,000 tumors for study. This collection of tumor samples is used to study how immune responses and genetic changes affect treatment and survival.

Area of Clinical Practice
Infections in patients with cancer, HIV-associated malignancies

“I don’t treat sets of numbers or conditions — I treat people. I want every patient to understand what’s happening and to feel that they’re part of the decision-making process.”

— Dr. Phipps

Why do you specialize in infectious disease management?

During medical training, I long debated about whether to go into oncology or infectious disease. Both presented the chance to improve global health, to develop meaningful long-term relationships with patients and to see families through a really challenging time. I am grateful to have carved out a niche where I can have an impact on both specialties. There are many tools currently available to help patients with cancer prevent and overcome infection, but there are also huge opportunities to improve treatment. We as a field are still writing that story, and it’s wonderful to be a part of that progress.

How do you approach patient care?

When it comes to dealing with infections in cancer care, there is often a lot of uncertainty. For example, there may be little data available on how best to treat a particular infection, or it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint what exactly is causing a symptom like a fever. But even in the face of uncertainty, I don’t give up. I’m committed to walking through this experience with you every step of the way and adapting our approach to care as the situation evolves. I also understand that it can be difficult to process what’s happening in the moment when health complications occur. Sometimes questions pop up after our visit is over, so I encourage patients and families to reach out anytime to discuss a concern. I don’t treat sets of numbers or conditions — I treat people. I want every patient to understand what’s happening and to feel that they’re part of the decision-making process.

Research Interests

Dr. Phipps' research focuses on HIV-associated malignancies, with a particular emphasis on human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) virology and the pathogenesis of Kaposi sarcoma (KS). He is also interested in infections in the immunocompromised host.

Specific areas of investigation include defining the characteristics of effective T-cell responses to KS in persons with and without HIV infection; analyzing cellular mutations in KS and evaluating the relationship of mutational burden, specific gene mutations and clonality with KS clinical presentation, response to therapy, and survival.

Other research interests include characterizing the HHV-8 transcriptome in KS tumors and determining the association between viral gene expression and KS clinical presentation and outcomes; and identifying causes of neutropenic fever among cancer patients in Uganda.

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Fellowship, University of Washington, Infectious Diseases

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

MPH, University of Washington, School of Public Health

MD, Harvard Medical School

BA, Yale University

Board Certifications

Infectious Disease, 2009, 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. Phipps

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. Phipps' 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
Laying the groundwork for a new cancer-preventive vaccine
Laying the groundwork for a new cancer-preventive vaccine Fred Hutch scientists garner large NCI award to uncover secrets of immune response to virus behind Kaposi sarcoma November 18, 2024
Lab advance brings a closer look at cancer in Africa
Lab advance brings a closer look at cancer in Africa Live cancer cells travel 8,800 miles for deep analyses in Seattle October 23, 2018
UCI-Fred Hutch collaboration turns 10
UCI-Fred Hutch collaboration turns 10 In Uganda, innovation and persistence allow a 'sustainable cancer program' to take root June 12, 2018

Contact Information

206.667.4600

206.667.1965