/content/dam/www/people-profile-photos/t/yolanda-tseng/provider-yolanda-tseng-directory-1x.jpg
/content/dam/www/people-profile-photos/t/yolanda-tseng/provider-yolanda-tseng-directory-2x.jpg
Tseng
Yolanda D. Tseng, MD, MPhil

Yolanda D. Tseng, MD, MPhil

Radiation Oncology

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

About

Dr. Yolanda Tseng is a board-certified radiation oncologist and researcher at Fred Hutch who treats a variety of cancers. She studies how advanced radiation techniques can improve outcomes and reduce side effects. 

Background

Dr. Tseng provides radiation therapy for people with blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as tumors of the brain and central nervous system. She focuses on thoughtfully tailoring radiation treatment to each patient’s disease and overall health.

In her research, Dr. Tseng studies how different forms of radiation therapy, including proton therapy, can better control cancer while limiting harm to healthy tissue. She examines how patient characteristics and tumor subtypes influence response to radiotherapy to help personalize treatment. Another key area of her work is palliative radiation, meaning the use of radiation to relieve symptoms of cancer, particularly for patients nearing the end of life. Through both her clinical care and research, she aims to improve effectiveness, comfort and quality of life for patients receiving radiation therapy.

Area of Clinical Practice
Hematological malignancies, brain and spinal cord tumors

“I’m always impressed by my patients’ strength during a stressful and uncertain period of their lives. The care we provide — clinical, emotional and personal — is one of the most gratifying aspects of being an oncologist.”

— Dr. Tseng

What drew you to radiation oncology?

When I was a medical student, I was on rotation with a surgeon who happened to work in a sarcoma clinic. Sarcomas are cancers that grow in the bones and connective tissue like muscles or tendons. I watched as three different physicians — the surgeon, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist — sat down together with a patient to talk about his treatment options. That was my first clinical exposure to radiation oncology. I loved the team-based approach to care and the close collaboration among people who have different areas of expertise. What also appealed to me was the chance to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives in multiple ways, providing curative therapy as well as symptom relief.

What do you think patients appreciate about working with you?

The optimal cancer treatment for each person may not always be black and white. There may be multiple treatment pathways available that could be a good fit. While it’s helpful to have options, trying to choose among them can also create a lot of anxiety for people. In those situations, I remind patients and families that you can’t make a wrong choice, because the option you choose is going to be most aligned with your goals and what’s important to you. If you understand what those goals are, then whatever decision you make is the right one. Many patients seem to find that perspective liberating.

Diseases Treated

Brain and Spinal Cord Cancers

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Leukemia

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Multiple Myeloma

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Research Interests

Increasing radiation therapeutic ratio for patients with hematologic malignancies

Evaluating how patient characteristics and tumor subtypes affect radiotherapy efficacy

Improving quality of palliative radiotherapy

Languages

English

Education and Experience

Residency, Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School

MD, Harvard Medical School

MPhil, Pharmacology, University of Cambridge

BS, Biological Engineering, Cornell University

Board Certifications

Radiation Oncology, 2015, American Board of Radiology

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 Yolanda Tseng

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. Tseng'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. 

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
Young mother’s Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis felt ‘devastating’
Young mother’s Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis felt ‘devastating’ Treatment at Fred Hutch, including proton therapy, helped her continue a fulfilling family life February 26, 2026
The Beam: Lymphoma treatment considerations for young patients; when to screen for prostate cancer; meet a spiritual health provider
The Beam: Lymphoma treatment considerations for young patients; when to screen for prostate cancer; meet a spiritual health provider Dr. Yolanda Tseng discusses the treatment nuances of certain lymphomas; prostate cancer screening info; meet Kyle Turver February 19, 2026
The Beam: Proton therapy clinical trials; prevention and treatment of ocular melanoma; beating the winter blues
The Beam: Proton therapy clinical trials; prevention and treatment of ocular melanoma; beating the winter blues Clinical trials are critical to advancing treatment for cancer patients; learn about risk factors for ocular melanoma; tips on keeping winter mood swings at bay December 19, 2025

Contact Information

206.598.6128