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Riviere
Paul Riviere, MD

Paul Riviere, MD

Radiation Oncology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Paul Riviere is a radiation oncologist and researcher at Fred Hutch. He specializes in head and neck cancers and radiation therapy for pain relief and symptom management.

Background

Dr. Riviere is cares for patients with head and neck cancers and whose work focuses on the management of cancer‑related pain, both pain caused directly by tumors and pain resulting from side effects of cancer treatment. As a radiation oncologist, his work concentrates on how radiation therapy can be used efficiently and effectively to treat tumor‑related pain or help prevent complications such as nerve compression or fractures.

In addition to treating patients, Dr. Riviere studies how policies related to the opioid epidemic have affected cancer pain management. He also provides palliative radiation and treats certain benign (noncancerous) conditions, including osteoarthritis, when radiation therapy may offer symptom relief.

Dr. Riviere has published multiple peer‑reviewed articles and is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Radiation Oncology and Radiological Society of North America.

Area of Clinical Practice
Head and neck cancers, palliative radiation, benign radiation, osteoarthritis

“My goals are for patients to feel informed and confident in their treatment plans and to provide excellent multidisciplinary care to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

— Dr. Riviere

What do you value about your work?

My favorite part of medicine is counseling patients and their families about treatment options and explaining the potential role of radiation therapy. Patients and their families often have a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety, and I am honored to provide support to them while they become informed about the process. I also enjoy helping patients achieve the best possible response to treatment so it can improve their quality of life.

What has been the focus of your research?

My research focuses on the management of cancer-related pain, both directly tumor related and because of side effects of therapies. I have also studied how policies surrounding the opioid epidemic have affected the management of cancer pain. My current work studies how radiation therapy can be used efficiently and effectively to treat tumor-related pain or prevent complications such as nerve compression or fractures.

I have family members who are now long-term cancer survivors. I have come to realize that as outcomes continue to improve year after year, we must also make advances in the management and prevention of treatment-related side effects.

Diseases Treated

Head and Neck Cancers

Oral Cancer

Skin Cancer

Diseases Researched

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Prostate Cancer

Metastatic Disease

Languages

English
French

Education and Experience

Residency, Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego

MD, University of California San Diego School of Medicine

BS, Stanford 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.

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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. Riviere'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

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The Beam: New lung cancer research, meals while away from home, meet our new head-and-neck cancer expert
The Beam: New lung cancer research, meals while away from home, meet our new head-and-neck cancer expert Fred Hutch expert weighs in on recent ASTRO conference, nutrition and cooking tips, meet Dr. Paul Riviere November 3, 2025