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Rengan
Ramesh Rengan, MD, PhD, FASTRO
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Ramesh Rengan, MD, PhD, FASTRO

Radiation Oncology

  • Physician, Fred Hutch
  • Senior Vice President and Director, Radiation Oncology Division, Fred Hutch
  • Chair, Division of Radiation Oncology, UW Medicine
  • Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch
  • Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
  • Peter Wootton Professorship in Radiation Oncology, UW Medicine
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About

Dr. Ramesh Rengan is senior vice president and director of the Radiation Oncology Division at Fred Hutch. A radiation oncologist and researcher, he treats patients with thoracic cancers and advances research to make radiation therapy more effective, including approaches that work with the immune system to improve cancer outcomes.

Background

Dr. Rengan cares for patients with thoracic cancers and other solid tumors, including lung cancer and melanoma. He is passionate about patient care, tumor biology and advanced technologies, and how radiation oncology combines these fields to provide new challenges and opportunities for scientific advancement every day. The integration of these disciplines allows him to provide leading-edge treatment.

In addition to patient care, Dr. Rengan conducts research focused on improving the effectiveness of radiation therapy while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. He studies both photon‑ and proton‑based radiation treatments and how radiation can work together with immunotherapies — treatments that harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Radiation can act as a powerful stimulator of the immune system, and when directed precisely at a tumor, it may help the tumor function like a vaccine against itself.

Dr. Rengan’s research explores how to trigger strong anti‑cancer immune responses using radiation to treat advanced cancers, including lung cancer, melanoma, lymphoma and kidney cancer. He also develops new methods to visualize and measure the effects of radiation on cancerous and healthy tissues. Another important focus of his work is understanding health care disparities and identifying ways to increase patient access to high‑quality radiation therapy.

His long‑term vision is to see “biologically directed” anti-cancer treatments — already a reality in some blood cancers — extended across solid tumors, including lung cancer and melanoma.

Area of Clinical Practice
Thoracic cancers

“My philosophy is simple: My patients come first.”

— Dr. Rengan

Why do you practice oncology?

I became a physician because of my patients. Every day, I am inspired by oncology patients’ selflessness, even when faced with a difficult disease. I once cared for a 96-year old patient who voluntarily gave up a treatment slot so that a perfect stranger could coordinate their appointment with chemotherapy. There is nothing more fulfilling than providing care for you, and I am honored to be entrusted with your health.

What is your approach to patient care?

Patient care should be based on a partnership between us, starting from your initial visit through your entire treatment process. Amazing quality care can only come from spending time and truly listening to you. I may have greater medical knowledge about your disease, but you have a far better understanding of your physical and emotional needs. We will get to know each other and tailor your treatment to fit what’s best for you and your lifestyle.

Diseases Treated

Lung Cancer

Melanoma

Prostate Cancer

Sarcoma

Research Interests

Approaches to improve the therapeutic ratio in solid tumors to ionizing photon or proton radiation

Pre-clinical and clinical strategies to utilize radiation to trigger an anti-tumor immune response in patients with advanced malignancies

Healthcare disparities and expanded access to radiation treatment in low-resource environments

Photon- and Proton based radiation regimens to trigger an immune response to augment immunotherapeutic platforms in solid malignancies including NSCLC, melanoma, lymphoma, and renal cell carcinoma

Development of biomarkers of immunologic and tumor response to ionizing radiation in solid tumors

Functional imaging to interrogate tumor and normal tissue response to ionizing radiation in solid tumors

Impact of healthcare resources on radiation-related outcome in solid tumors

Languages

English
Tamil

Education and Experience

Residency, Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

MD, University of Michigan

PhD, Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan

MSc, Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan

BSc, Chemistry, University of Michigan

Board Certification

Radiation Oncology, 2007, 2018, American Board of Radiology

Awards

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

Faculty Teaching Award, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 2013-2014

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians. 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

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other doctors 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. Rengan'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
When donors go all in, the magic begins
When donors go all in, the magic begins Aldarra Foundation achieved maximum impact at Fred Hutch and beyond by giving boldly, with purpose and on a timeline June 30, 2025
Fred Hutch’s new Radiation Oncology Division takes shape
Fred Hutch’s new Radiation Oncology Division takes shape In a Q&A, Dr. Ramesh Rengan outlines the strategy, mission and goals for research and care September 20, 2023
Experts weigh in on brain tumors; We profile brain tumor expert Dr. Lia Halasz; Nutrition guidelines based on your tumor and treatment.
Experts weigh in on brain tumors; We profile brain tumor expert Dr. Lia Halasz; Nutrition guidelines based on your tumor and treatment. May 1, 2023

Contact Information

206.306.2814

206.417.0347